HR expertise, at the right level, at the right time.

Fractional HR support for growing businesses — strategic when you need it, hands-on when it counts, without the overhead of a full-time hire.

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About

People strategy, without the overhead

Lauren Dory Bardebes

The People Studio & Co brings senior HR expertise to businesses that need it — but not always full-time. We plug in exactly where you are: building foundations for a scaling startup, steadying a team through change, or covering the gaps a growing company hasn't filled yet.

No bloated retainers, no one-size-fits-all playbooks. Just practical, right-sized HR support that flexes with your business.

Services

How we help

Fractional HR Leadership

Ongoing, embedded HR support — as little or as much as your business needs, on a flexible schedule.

HR Strategy & Foundations

Policies, processes, and people systems built to scale with you, not against you.

Employee Relations

Steady, experienced guidance through performance issues, conflict, and change management.

Talent & Onboarding

Hiring processes and onboarding experiences that set new employees up to succeed from day one.

Compliance & Risk

Keep your HR practices current and defensible, reducing exposure as your team grows.

Leadership Coaching

One-on-one support for managers navigating people challenges for the first time.

Resources

Books & playbooks

Practical, no-nonsense e-books on management and people leadership, drawn from 15+ years in HR.

The Complete People Leader Bundle cover

The Complete People Leader Bundle

NZ$134.31
Get it on Gumroad
The Cybersecurity Manager Playbook cover

The Cybersecurity Manager Playbook

NZ$49.30
Get it on Gumroad
Why Change isn't working? cover

Why Change isn't working?

NZ$49.30
Get it on Gumroad
The Founder's Guide to Recruiting in the AI Era cover

The Founder's Guide to Recruiting in the AI Era

NZ$49.30
Get it on Gumroad
The Startup Manager Playbook cover

The Startup Manager Playbook

NZ$49.30
Get it on Gumroad

See all books on Gumroad →

Contact

Let's talk about your team

Tell us where you're at and where you're headed — we'll figure out the right level of support together.

Lauren Dory Bardebes

021 237 7534

Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand