Home | Barbie Winterbottom | Executive Consultant

20 Years

Worked for over 20 years in the People Space

2020

launched
the Business of HR,
a boutique consulting firm

2022

launched the Hiring Squad in 2022

About Barbie

Relatable | Authentic | Whole Hearted

Like millions around the globe during the COVID-19 Pandemic, my job was eliminated. I knew this was a pivotal moment for me and my career, and that it was time to lean in to my dream and passion for growing talent and so, I launched the Business of HR, a boutique consulting firm offering services including Coaching, Consulting, Speaking and giving back to the HR and community I love so much.

With 20+ years of experience in Leadership and People I’ve developed a sixth sense and a unique ability to quickly see through the noise of an issue and identify the root cause to create the right strategy and team to solve the problem at its core.

I have deep roots in Talent Acquisition, with specific emphasis on High Volume Hiring, TA transformation, Employment Branding and training and we use this experience and knowledge to build end to end strategies to deliver the best talent possible.

With significant demand in this space, I launched the Hiring Squad in 2022 with my business partner, Sam Eaton. Together we bring you customized recruitment strategy, branding, training and more. We can help train your TA Team as well as your hiring managers and people leaders…because, let’s face it, most leaders are not taught how to facilitate meaningful DEIB informed interviews.

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, a cancer survivor and the daughter and sister of a father and brother taken by suicide, I have a perspective and lived experience that informs and impacts everything I do to elevate mental health awareness and meaningful DEIB strategies and initiatives in the workplace. I’m honored to have been recognized as a top voice in the DEIB space and I’ve recently been joined the Board of the Bowman Foundation for Workplace Equity & Mental Wellness.

It’s not enough to simply talk about mental health and Inclusion, we must take action, amplify voices that need to be heard and operationalize our programs to truly deliver the impact our people deserve and our workplaces desperately need. I wrote the 5 Imperatives to help HR and Leadership professionals shift their mindset and their approach to work. We must change ourselves first, if we want to change our workplaces…transformation really is an inside job.

What we offer

Recruiting & Staffing Support

We deliver High Volume Hiring expertise as well as hands on Recruiting support for HR, Leadership & Confidential search. Recruiting & Staffing Support

Human Resources Consulting

From operationalizing Culture & Values to HR Team support, Leadership coaching & Development and building People infrastructure, we can help you optimize the People Strategy for your organization.

Thought Leadership & Speaking

Invite me as a speaker to your next seminar or conference and I can inspire and help your audience reframe the way they approach the work they do! Workshops available too.

1:1 Coaching

Today, I offer my 1:1 Executive and HR Coaching services as I recognize the gap that exists between the “Theory” of how things work and the reality of how things actually get done

What They Say

-Tynesha O’Quinn,
MBA-HRM SHRM-CP sHRBP

Barbie delivered the final keynote at the VA State SHRM Conference and I was completely blown away!

–John Carlson,
CHRO Filtrous

Working with Barbie has transformed our People Team. We now have a True North, a strategy, mindset and framework to execute the valuable work our People deserve.

-Shelly Smith,
2022 VA State Conference Lead

Barbie Winterbottom’s keynote delivery was spot on for our final day at the HR VA SHRM 2022 conference. Her real time presentation of all things related to the business of people, made a huge impact on how we think and how to move forward in the world as business leaders.

-Aaron Backman,

Lead Technical Recruiter

Barbie either has a 6th sense or her fabulous glasses are magic, when you meet with her she makes space for and see’s you, for who you truly are and what you can be. I started coaching with Barbie at a pivotal point in my career where my my engagement at work was low, I was clashing with other leaders, feeling burnt out, and without purpose. After just a few sessions I had already started to rebuild my confidence in my capabilities and was able to articulate my competence in more effective ways. Just a short year later I have doubled my salary, am entering a new leadership role with a company that see’s my worth, and am more satisfied in my role than ever. When I need an executive coach again I know who I’ll call.

Barbie’s coaching is genuine, direct, and competent. She has helped me immediately diagnose and solve critical issues in my business. From how to gain buy-in from executive leadership to scaling an HR team with limited resources, Barbie has been instrumental in reshaping my mindset and helping me connect with others who have been in similar situations. This has given me more confidence and reinvigorated my passion to improve the work I do every day

Bobbi Brant

VP HR Planet Fitness

Our Board of Directors recently held our annual retreat. In light of changes our organization has made as a result of COVID-19 and turnover in leadership, Barbie addressed our group on the importance of change leadership and how it differs from change management. Barbie delivered an amazing keynote address, focused on the importance of building a balanced team to lead through the change, how to think about it in terms of scalability, and staying true to ourselves and our mission in bringing about change rather than changing for the sake of change. This had an impact on our board, brought about some great discussions about the direction we are heading and the process we need to go through in growing our organization. Barbie delivered her content in a way that was approachable and created a lot of energy, no easy feat when sitting on a half day Zoom meeting. We appreciated Barbie's message and thoughtfulness in how to address not for profit leaders and highly recommend her as a keynote or featured speaker in any forum.

Jaclyn Reilly

Board of Directors

I really wanted to invest in a career coach this year, and one day I came across a video from Barbie that someone in my LinkedIn network had liked, which popped up on my feed. After hearing Barbie’s insight on business and leadership from the video, I knew immediately who I wanted as my coach and that was Barbie. I was so amazed at her delivery and HR business knowledge, I messaged Barbie and wanted to start coaching sessions with her right away. Our coaching sessions have been so informative and her knowledge has been so impactful on how I lead my team . If you’re looking for a career coach, I highly recommend to start sessions with Barbie. Worth the investment and you will not be disappointed.

Joanne S.

Nordstrom

Partnering with Barbie has been absolutely invaluable to my career growth! She has helped me unlock a new level of not just people leadership, but partnering with other leaders! The level of confidence she has ingrained in me over the last few months, has helped me have a stronger voice in my organization as I lead our People functions. I have leaned into her expertise in Talent Acquisition in the absence of having that role on my team this year, and she is helping me transform what Talent Acquisition looks like for us. I am not only a better leader, but my organization is better for the work Barbie has offered to me.

Joanie Love

HR Director, Bellhops

This session fed my HR soul! Thank you for the great conversation and food for thought Barbie Winterbottom #PeopleProcessSystems.

Amira Epstein

HR is so much more than most people realize. These 5 Imperatives are universal pillars for HR professionals to adapt and apply. Love it!

Orlando Haynes

Shelly Smith

2022 VA State Conference Lead