Laura Then

About Laura Then

I’m a Fractional People Operations Executive supporting early- and growth-stage companies as a Chief of Staff and Chief People Officer.With 10+ years leading People and Ops in healthcare, tech, and remote-first orgs, I specialize in building the operational backbone that allows visionary founders to scale — sustainably.What I do:• Build and scale People Ops, Talent Acquisition, and HR compliance from the ground up• Act as a founder’s right hand — bringing structure to goals, meetings, and strategy• Design onboarding, performance, and remote team systems aligned to OKRs• Lead org design, culture development, and team accountability models• Oversee hiring roadmaps and create repeatable, inclusive talent pipelinesHow I work:Fast-moving, strategic, and low-ego. I plug in quickly, work cross-functionally, and bring a balance of systems-thinking + human-centered leadership.

Experience

1. Human Resources

   Cinnamon Inc

   Aug 2025 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

   Lead all HR functions including multi-state compliance, talent acquisition, payroll, benefits, employee relations, and performance management for a fast-scaling tech startup. • Build and optimize People Operations processes, policies, and HR systems to support organizational growth and ensure a compliant, high-trust workplace. • Partner with executive leadership to align HR strategy with business goals, drive culture and engagement initiatives, and advise on sensitive and complex personnel matters. • Oversee full-cycle recruitment and onboarding to attract top talent and deliver a seamless employee experience from hire through retention. • Manage compensation, HR analytics, and workforce planning to support data-driven decision-making and scalable operational growth.

Education

• The City University of New York

  Biology, General