Anna Welland

Anna Welland is an accomplished Human Resources leader and business operations strategist with over 15 years of experience helping startups, small businesses, and mission-driven organizations scale with confidence. She specializes in building and optimizing people operations that align with growth goals, funding milestones, and organizational culture—delivering both the strategic vision and hands-on execution needed for sustainable success.

Anna partners with founders, executives, and leadership teams who are navigating the challenges of rapid growth or operational transformation. She understands that in small and early-stage companies, leaders often wear multiple hats, leaving little time to focus on building scalable HR systems, processes, and strategies. Her approach bridges that gap, bringing the expertise of a seasoned HR executive without the overhead of a full-time hire.

Over her career, Anna has led HR strategy and operations across diverse sectors including technology, biotech, healthcare, climate tech, and nonprofit research. She has designed fit-for-purpose HR infrastructures from the ground up, implemented applicant tracking and HRIS systems, created compensation and career frameworks, and driven talent acquisition strategies that helped companies triple in size. Her work has resulted in measurable outcomes such as securing $10M+ in funding, increasing operational efficiency by 30%, and reducing HR costs by 20%.

As Head of Human Resources for a biotech startup, Anna scaled the team by 300%, implemented HR systems, and launched programs that strengthened employee engagement and retention. In her consulting practice, she has partnered with organizations to align HR practices with their unique missions and growth trajectories. She also brings deep experience in compliance and risk management, ensuring companies stay aligned with employment laws, industry regulations, and funding requirements.

Anna’s clients appreciate her ability to listen deeply, assess quickly, and deliver tailored, actionable solutions. She blends strategic insight with operational know-how, offering support that evolves as the organization grows, from early-stage hiring and onboarding to performance management, leadership development, and organizational design. Her style is collaborative, transparent, and rooted in building trust, making her a valued partner to leadership teams and employees alike.

Based in Boston, Anna works with clients locally and nationwide. Whether it’s a founder-led company preparing for Series A funding, a climate tech innovator scaling its workforce, or a nonprofit navigating complex HR compliance, Anna ensures the people side of the business is a strategic driver of success.

When she’s not partnering with clients, Anna is an active contributor to the HR and startup communities, sharing insights through her LinkedIn newsletter and participating in professional networks. She is committed to helping small and growing organizations create workplaces where people and business thrive together.

Specialties: Fractional HR leadership, startup HR infrastructure, onboarding and employee engagement, HR systems implementation, compensation frameworks, performance management, organizational development, compliance and risk mitigation, change management and management coaching.