Ula Iwanska
People Lead/HRBP
Talent Acquisition
End-to-end People Function
Distributed Teams
Professional Status
Employed
Available
About Me
I am passionate about driving growth of high-performing businesses by implementing scalable people-focused strategies.
Professional Experience
People & Talent Lead
Avea Life (Longevity & Health Science)
Since May 2024
Part-time
- Leads end-to-end People function, partners with Founders and Executive Team.
- Developed a People roadmap aligned with business goals.
- Launched a continuous performance management framework, providing visibility into performance and development needs, and ultimately driving organisational success.
- Delivered targeted engagement initiatives, increasing engagement by +1.2 and eNPS by +18.
- Implemented salary review, job leveling, and progression processes to support growth, fair pay, budget planning and retention.
- Designed and delivered "Radical Candor" feedback training.
- Continuously coached managers on feedback and performance.
- Designed and implemented a structured interview process that embeds cultural values.
- Ensured smooth onboarding; currently working on onboarding automation (Claude Cowork).
- Manages day-to-day people operations across multiple countries for distributed teams in EMEA and APAC.
- Developed a People roadmap aligned with business goals.
- Tools: Slack, Google Workspace, Notion, Miro, Asana, Greenhouse, Loom, 15Five, Docusign, EORs, Gemini, Claude Cowork, ChatGTP
Head of Talent
Katanox (SaaS, HotelTech)
March 2023
to March 2024
Consultant
- Brought in on a contract to enable a self-management culture and address hiring needs.
- Partnered with Product and Engineering team to streamline hiring process and delivered full-cycle recruitment for Engineering and Product roles.
- Run Cultural workshops with Founders on subject of Holacracy (self-management).
- Partnered with Product and Engineering team to streamline hiring process and delivered full-cycle recruitment for Engineering and Product roles.
- Tools: Homerun, BambooHR, Notion, Slack, Google Workspace.
Head of People & Talent
Awell Health (SaaS, HealthTech)
November 2021
to August 2022
Full-time
- Hired on a stand-alone role (pre-series A):
- Led redesign of cultural values (remote-first, flat and async culture)
- Delivered hiring for critical roles: Software developers, CISO, Compliance.
- Provided performance coaching and facilitated team training for Engineering and Operations.
- Implemented ESOP program.
- Led redesign of cultural values (remote-first, flat and async culture)
- Reason to leave: lack of sufficient funding.
- Tools: Slack, G Suite, Confluence, Airtable, Miro.
Head of People & Culture
Nextail Labs (SaaS, RetailTech)
September 2019
to November 2021
Full-time
- Built the People function from the ground up in post-series A, high-growth start-up. Reported to CEO.
- Designed and implemented end-to-end people strategies across three pillars: (1) Growth: career paths, leadership development, and internal mobility; (2) Infrastructure for scale: compensation frameworks and onboarding; and (3) Performance culture: agile performance management with continuous feedback.
- Led Talent Acquisition efforts enabling company growth from 70 to 180 employees.
- Run HR operations and ER in multi-country scope: Spain, UK, Italy, Russia, USA.
- Built People team from scratch (team: 5 reports).
- Designed and implemented end-to-end people strategies across three pillars: (1) Growth: career paths, leadership development, and internal mobility; (2) Infrastructure for scale: compensation frameworks and onboarding; and (3) Performance culture: agile performance management with continuous feedback.
- Reason to leave: an opportunity with greater direct impact.
- Tools: Slack, G Suite, Factorial, Lattice, Trello, Recruitee, Culture Amp.
Head of People & TA - Spain
Deliveroo
July 2018
to August 2019
Full-time
- Led the People & TA function for Spain, managing two direct reports and supporting company growth to 160 employees through strong culture and people processes.
- Reason to leave: Closure of the Spain office.
- Tools: Greenhouse, Slack, G Suite, Workday
Head of People and Culture
Dommo (now Jungle21)
February 2017
to July 2018
Full-time
- Enabled change in the company culture and ensured that we hire the best talent for the agency. Implemented: OKRs, Real Time Feedback, passive Talent Pool.
- Reason to leave: Going back to tech sector.
Senior Talent Manager EMEA, APAC
Medallia (SaaS)
October 2013
to August 2016
Full-time
London
- Created Talent Acquisition Strategy plan aligned with Medallia needs and business vision. Contributed to growth of business up to 120 people.
- Reason to leave: Personal (moved back to Spain).
- Tools: Greenhouse, Workday
Staffing Partner EMEA Dublin, London
Google
October 2010
to May 2013
London
- Managed full-cycle recruitment process, continuously overachieved on hiring goals (110% of target). Note: Employed with Google on 2x contracts (2010/2011-2012/2013).
- Reason to leave: Professional growth in a start-up company.
HR Responsible
Geci Ing
March 2008
to July 2009
Madrid
- Managed hiring (engineers) and day to day HR Ops. Left due to redundancy.
Recruitment Consultant
W&BS
March 2006
to February 2008
Krakow
- Managed clients and run international recruitment projects.
Languages
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English
Expert
-
Spanish
Advanced
-
Polish
Expert
Skills
Design Thinking
Executive Coaching
PX as a Product
Certifications
ICF Certification - in training
2026
Solutions Focused Coaching
2025
Oracle HCM (Oracle Core HR Implementer),
July 2023
Interests
Food, Health & Sustainability
- Certified professional dog trainer.
- Food waste and circular economy.
- Sports: Mountain trekking.
- Good book to read.