Build with purpose. Lead with intention.
I help leaders turn purpose into their greatest advantage—fueling performance, growth, and impact. Your mission calls for people practices that strengthen how you lead and how your team works. Together, we’ll navigate today’s people priorities while building a company that matters.
Practical People Leadership, designed for where you are.
I partner with founders, leaders, and teams in two ways:
Working with me feels different.
I’m here to unlock potential and build the systems and practices that make it stick. Leaders trust me quickly because I combine empathy with strategic clarity—I listen deeply, see what others miss, and create space for people to feel both supported and challenged. I’ve been an operator, building companies from the inside, and I’m also a trained coach, equipped to grow leadership from the inside out. That mix—builder and coach—is what makes the work both practical and transformational.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
“Jacob was an invaluable partner to me in my role as CEO of Trove. He shepherded responsibilities from building a competitive talent acquisition motion to closing a warehouse facility, to ensuring we had the policies, processes, and tools to run an efficient operation. Beyond his deep functional expertise, I could rely on Jacob to provide a point of view and to partner with me on topics frequently outside of the People function. Jacob is not afraid to share his thoughts openly, which made him a valued and trusted confidante.”
Gayle, CEO, Trove
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
"Jacob has been a steadying force for the People & Culture department during a pivotal time of leadership transition, bringing calm, clarity, and pragmatic leadership when it was most needed. He has stepped in to keep things moving and prevent sensitive issues from escalating, and has done so collaboratively and with a low ego. I deeply value Jacob’s experience and strategic perspective, which is helping to set the team up for future success."
Karen Draper, CFO/COO, College Track
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
“As a Founder, bringing Jacob on as our first Head of People was a game changer. He built out our People function and gave me leverage knowing he had his focus on both immediate and long-term talent needs. I was constantly glad to have his expertise, depth, and care as we navigated unprecedented challenges, including COVID-19. He was an essential part of my core team, looking around corners and guiding complex decisions. Any company would be fortunate to have his help as a people executive or coach.”
Andy, Founder
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
“From day one, Jacob showed up as approachable, confident, and deeply curious — qualities that immediately built my trust as we navigated a period of intense change. He moves seamlessly between being a doer and a strategic thought partner, always balancing what’s best for the organization with how to get there. Through our partnership, I’ve grown in my own HR expertise and built greater clarity and confidence in leading complex work. Jacob demystifies big, sometimes overwhelming projects and breaks them down into clear, actionable steps — and he’s consistently reminded me to trust my own strengths as a leader.”
Elizabeth Calmeyer, VP of People & Culture, College Track
Jacob Schultz
I’m a seasoned People executive, coach, and builder with two decades of experience helping organizations scale through complexity and change. Across industries, stages, and missions, I’ve led teams through growth, challenge, and reinvention. I bring calm to chaos, structure to ambiguity, and care to every conversation. My approach isn’t a playbook—it’s real-world judgment, compassion, and the steady presence leaders need when the stakes are high.
I’ve sat in the hot seat. I’ve built and rebuilt teams. I’ve coached through crises and celebrated wins that once felt out of reach. What I offer is both practical and personal: the expertise of an operator and the perspective of a coach.
EXPERIENCE
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Led People, Culture & Talent at 4+ mission-driven organizations scaling from 10 to 400+ employees
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Built and optimized every aspect of the People function—teams, processes, and technology—across multiple industries
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Trusted advisor to 6+ startup CEOs, guiding executive performance and alignment
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iPEC Certified Professional Coach (ICF-accredited training program)
ORGANIZATIONS I'VE SUPPORTED
