Hi!
I’m Jaala.
I help early‑stage startups and small businesses build their first People & Culture function, without the corporate bloat.
Previously, I was Chief People Officer at Thriday (acquired by Tyro), where I built the People & Culture function from scratch for a 100% remote, global team.
Whether you are at 10 people and wondering when and how to formalise processes, or at 30 and starting to feel the cracks in an ad‑hoc approach, I partner with emerging leaders to create HR foundations that actually work for your culture, so you can scale headcount without chaos.
I bring structure where it matters (compliance, fair processes, growth frameworks), and keep things lean and adaptable where it does not.
My sweet spot is working alongside founders and first‑time People leaders who want to do right by their teams, without slowing down momentum.
I am based on the Surf Coast of Victoria and can travel to Melbourne, or work with you remotely.
How I Can Add Value
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Building your first HR function from scratch, creating people strategies aligned with your growth goals, and establishing compliant but lean processes that won't slow you down.
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Designing recruitment processes that attract the right talent, creating structured interviews that reduce bias, and building onboarding experiences that get new hires contributing quickly.
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Implementing performance frameworks that actually drive development, setting up feedback systems people will use, and creating career pathways that retain your best people.
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Defining and embedding your values in practical ways, designing team rituals and practices that strengthen culture, and measuring what matters for team health.
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Implementing OKR frameworks that align teams, maintain focus and drive success.
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Creating remuneration frameworks and job leveling that balance market competitiveness with internal fairness.