Background

Built for complexity.

A decade building People and Talent functions from the ground up at venture-backed companies — typically as the first hire in the role.

Jean Gallagher McCauley
01 The background

I've spent the last decade building and scaling People and Talent functions from the ground up at venture-backed companies, typically as the first hire in the role. My work sits at the intersection of talent strategy, organizational design, and company growth.

Most recently, I led a global organizational restructuring across five countries: 125 employees to 35, a 66% reduction in burn, and a strategic repositioning of the company. That experience shapes how I advise on workforce planning, restructuring, and executive hiring in complex, regulated environments.

On the career side, I bring the same operator perspective. I've sat on the other side of every resume, every interview, every hiring decision. That lens — knowing what actually moves the needle — is what makes the approach different.

10+
Years in People & Talent leadership
5
Countries managed in a global restructuring
66%
Burn reduction through strategic org redesign
1st
People/Talent hire at multiple startups
02 How I work

Operator perspective, advisor approach.

01
Built from the inside
I've been the first People hire and the one in the room when the org chart gets redrawn. My advice comes from that seat, not from outside it.
02
Complexity is the point
Global restructurings, regulated industries, high-stakes executive hires. I gravitate toward the hardest problems, because that's where the stakes are highest.
03
Both sides of the table
I've evaluated thousands of resumes and hired hundreds of people. When I write yours, I know exactly what decision-makers are looking for.

Start with thirty minutes of straight talk.

Bring your current resume. You'll leave knowing exactly where you stand and what I'd fix first — whether or not we work together.

Book the resume audit · $250