Helena Ferrari understands that true business value comes at the intersection of people, culture, business expectations and regulatory realities. Helena is a client-focused fractional CHRO, a Globally Certified Expert, and a CEO/Board Partner with 25 years of experience in strategic human capital transformations and compliance governance. She has delivered multimillion-dollar impacts in fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly growing private equity firms, from startups to companies with revenues of up to $250MM.

 

Her expertise spans M&As, IPOs, risk management, workforce planning, and succession planning. With a strategic mindset and a culturally diverse global perspective from living in the UK, Australia, America, and led organizations across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and APAC regions.

 

She is passionate about protecting employer profits therefore, offers executive advisory services in Risk Mitigation and Governance, helping businesses and leaders thrive by meeting goals and growth plans. Helena's specialty is on due diligence and comprehensive assessments with a goal of minimizing financial exposure related to employment related matters.

 

Typically her clients' face challenges in three key areas:

 

1. HR department inefficiencies.

2. Guidance on execution, reduction, and reorganization to limit financial exposure.

3. Budgetary strain due to escalating insurance renewals.

 

Fractional, Interim, and Project Based Client Solutions:

 

1. Challenge: A 45% annual increase in benefit and commercial insurance costs, coupled with overtime and staffing overruns.

Action: Analyzed insurance coverages, identified redundancies, and reviewed overtime data.

Result: Achieved $2MM in annual cost savings and organizational alignment.

 

2. Challenge: A class action/PAGA lawsuit requiring a payroll and timecard audit to demonstrate compliance.

Action: Conducted a wage and hour analysis, identifying an 18% meal break violation rate with potential fines ≥ $1.7M.

Result: Revamped policies, trained payroll and HR teams, educated leaders, and integrated compliance training into onboarding, significantly reducing legal risks.

 

3. Challenge: High turnover impacting financial performance.

Action: Performed a workforce analysis using data, exit interviews, and internal interviews.

Result: Identified a 58% turnover rate costing $5.8M. Implemented leadership training, integrated educational sessions into onboarding, and reduced turnover by 50% in less than six months.

 

4. Challenge: Need for downsizing and reorganization with minimal legal exposure.

Action: Conducted comprehensive assessments, financial analysis, and workforce evaluations, and provided recommendations on execution and communication.

Result: Completed the reduction in force on time, within budget, and with zero lawsuits.

 

5. Challenge: HR leadership turnover during a critical period involving a 401k audit, benefits open enrollment, HRIS implementation, and a SPAC process.

Action: Provided interim leadership, guided the HR team, attended executive meetings, and facilitated the recruitment and training of a new HR leader.

Result: Ensured continuity and a smooth transition during a period of significant change.

 

We would enjoy learning about your pain points and explore ways we could potentially help solve them!  Contact us today!