PFunc Intro

Message from our CEO’s Desk

This one is a message from me (a CEO) to my fellow CEO’s. It has become painfully obvious that the line between our private life and our professional reputation has officially dissolved. The world is always watching, and the lesson for leaders is that WE are our company’s brand, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, no matter where we are or what we’re doing.

We saw two painful examples recently - first it was Andy Byron, the former CEO of tech company Astronomer, who resigned after a video of him and his Chief People Officer on a "kiss cam" at a Coldplay concert went viral. Just this past weekend Piotr Szczerek, CEO of Polish company Drogbruk, was caught on camera snatching a signed hat from a young boy at the US Open.

In both instances, the leaders made a fundamental mistake - they assumed their private actions could remain private, and therefore would have no public consequence. Internet sleuths quickly identified them, leading to public shaming and professional fallout. In both cases we also got fake apology letters that circulated online that made them look even worse, adding to the reputational damage. Their poor judgment in these private moments made public are more than just “mistakes.” The public saw these incidents as a reflection of their character, and therefore of their companies’ values. 

This is the stark reality for every leader and should serve as a wakeup call. The integrity we preach inside the office must be the integrity we live outside of it. We can't talk about respect in our company handbook and then literally do the US Open equivalent of taking candy from a baby. 

So, how do we lead with authenticity and integrity in this always-on world?

• Lead by Example (All the Time): Our actions, both big and small, are under a microscope. Whether in a client meeting or on a jumbotron, on the beach or on the subway, our behavior is the most powerful tool for demonstrating what our organization truly stands for.

• Define Your Non-Negotiables: Are our personal values in alignment with our companies’ values? We can't credibly lead a team toward values we don't personally hold true.

• Build a Culture of Accountability: This isn't just about holding others accountable; it's about being accountable ourselves. We must admit our mistakes, take responsibility, and show our teams it’s okay to be human—as long as we live by our values.

The pressure is high, but the expectation is simple - act out the values you would expect from your team. If you can't be a good human being at a concert or a tennis match, how can you be a good leader in the boardroom? We should all assume that our character is on public display, and it’s what truly builds or breaks trust with your employees and the entire world.

Emma

CEO & Founder, People Function

ICYMI Compliance Tips

Below are a few of the latest HR regulatory and compliance updates published within the last month:

• California (eff. 1/1/2026) - Announced on 8/1/2025, minimum wage rates for the state will increase to $16.90 per hour for non-exempt employees and $70,304 per year for exempt employees.

• Colorado (eff. 1/1/2026) - the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance program (FAMLI) will begin allowing employees to take an additional 12 weeks of leave if their child is receiving inpatient care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

On The PFunc Market

Talent Spotlight

Check out this vetted candidate who is actively on the market looking for a new role:

• Richard Hinton, VP of People - Richard is a seasoned People leader with 20+ years of experience spanning startups to large enterprises, specializing in aligning people strategy with business outcomes through culture, clarity, and coaching. Richard is open to full-time Chief People Officer or VP of People roles.

Reply to this email if you’re interested in being introduced to a Richard! If you’re on the market for a new role in HR/People Operations, Business Operations, or Leadership & Executive and Executive support roles, and you’d like to be featured in our “Talent Spotlight” section, please submit your information here.

Open Roles in our Network

• Allocate, PFunc Client: Senior Director, Investments & Research - this role will source, evaluate, and manage fund and co-investment opportunities, with a particular focus on venture capital and private equity and be responsible for shaping the broader platform by building relationships with leading GPs, supporting product development, and driving key strategic initiatives.

• Inspiren, PFunc Client: Head of Revenue Operations - this role will lead their end-to-end revenue engine and design, implement, and optimize the systems, processes, and insights that power their go-to-market (GTM) strategy.

• Backerkit, Former PFunc Client: Engineering Manager - this role will lead their 6-person dev team (with plans to grow) and be critical to their ability to ship valuable features, run experiments, and support their developers.

If you have an open role at your company that you’d like to highlight in our next newsletter, please reply to this email!

PFunc News

Team Member Spotlight

Adriana Estrada Genao leads our HR & People Consulting team serving as the coach and advisor to both all of our consultants. She also supports 7 of our clients, including long-term clients Bedrock Ocean Exploration and Holey Grail Donuts, and one of our newest clients, Radar.

PFunc Highlights

• Ariella Goldsmith Chaparro joins the team at Inspiren!

  Last month, we celebrated an exciting transition within PFunc. One of our consultants, Ariella, has joined our client Inspiren as their People Operations Manager. While we’ll miss having Ella on our internal team day-to-day, we’re thrilled to see her step into this new chapter and continue making an impact in a role that’s such a natural fit. We’re equally excited to strengthen our ongoing partnership with Inspiren as we collaborate with Ella in her new capacity. Please join us in congratulating her on this next step!

Client Corner

We’re excited to have added so many new clients to our roster that span across many industries and stages:

• Digg - Digg is back! They are building a human-first community platform where users connect to share and discover the very best of the internet and beyond by blending authentic interaction with advanced technology.

• Oxeon - Oxeon is a healthcare-focused executive search and investment firm that connects visionary leaders with transformative ideas to help catalyze the future of healthcare.

• Peluva - Peluva creates minimalist, barefoot-inspired footwear to blend functional biomechanics with stylish everyday and athletic wear, helping users move more naturally and comfortably.

• Tabs - Tabs is an AI-powered revenue automation platform built for modern B2B companies, streamlining the full contract-to-cash process—including data capture, invoicing, receivables, payments, revenue recognition, and reporting—all in one unified system.

We’re thrilled to be working with their teams!

Stay in Touch!

Are you interested in fractional HR support for your team? Reply to this email or contact us to learn more about our offerings, pricing, and how we can support your growing company.

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