Ashley Carson 🏳️‍🌈

Fractional CPO | HR Exec Consultant | Leadership Coach

Carson Group Collective

Jan 2025 – Present(1 yr 4 mos)

We partner with startups, scaling businesses, and purpose-driven organizations across private and venture back orgs, healthcare, tech, and mission-led sectors, to bridge the gap between people strategy, culture, and execution. We help leadership teams design resilient, inclusive, and scalable cultures that can withstand complexity and thrive in growth. We support organizations through transformation—whether it’s building HR infrastructure from the ground up, navigating M&A integration, or designing culture that sticks through scale. Carson Group Collective is rooted in the belief that a strong people strategy is the foundation for lasting impact. Specialties: • Fractional CPO & Executive HR Support • People Strategy & Culture Design • Foundational HR Build • Org Development & Change Leadership • M&A Integration • Talent & Engagement Strategy • Leadership Development • Systems Scaling • Leadership Coaching & Advisory • Advisory Work

HR Exec | People Strategy and Talent Consultant

AmpersandPeople

Jul 2025 – Present(10 mos)

L&D Consultant

A Positive Adventure

Oct 2025 – Present(7 mos)

HR Advisor

ChangeEngine

Nov 2024 – Present(1 yr 6 mos)

Founder | Resiliency Strategist | HR Exec Consultant | Leadership Coach

Resiliency Theory

Jan 2020 – Present(6 yrs 4 mos)

The Resiliency Theory explores the human side of leadership—where culture, values-driven growth, and resilience meet. We dive into what it takes to lead with heart, clarity, and courage in the face of complexity and change. Through real stories and honest conversations, we shine a light on how values, humanity, and adaptability shape the way we work—and the way we lead. Featured Topics: • Values-Driven Leadership • Leading Through Change • Organizational Resilience Culture & Inclusion • Building Your Resiliency Muscle • Whole-Person Workplaces • Emotional Intelligence • Coaching Insights

Global VP of People

Sentry (sentry.io)

Oct 2022 – Sep 2024(2 yrs)

B2B | Series E Startup → Venture backed | Acquired Codecov and Specto | Developer-first application monitoring platform Recruited to lead Sentry’s Global People team, overseeing People Operations, Workplace Experience, and Recruiting. Designed and executed a strategic transformation, driving organizational change, restructuring the HR function, and optimizing processes and programs. Led talent and development initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.

Chief People Officer

apree health

Feb 2022 – Sep 2022(8 mos)

B2B, B2Payer | Series C to E Startup → PE backed → Merged with Castlight Health | Onsite & nearsite primary care services w/digital front door Led the overall vision, strategy, design, and successful execution of the HR integration and org redesign 500 to 1,200 employees globally.

Chief People Officer (now apree health)

Vera Whole Health

Jan 2020 – Sep 2022(2 yrs 9 mos)

B2B, B2Payer | Series C to E Startup → PE backed → Merged with Castlight Health | Onsite & nearsite primary care services w/digital front door Recruited to lead the overall strategy, design, and execution of the HR function and organizational transformation during a period of high growth (50 to 500 employees), between 2015-2022. Owned company culture, talent strategy, people ops, change management, and comms. Post-merger oversaw the vision, strategy, design, and successful execution of the HR integration and org redesign 500 to 1,200 employees globally. • Served as a key advisor to the C-suite on all people resource strategies and coached on initiatives that directly affected business outcomes. • Executive sponsor of Vera’s RISE (DEI) committee focused on; (1) reducing disparities of health for our patients, and (2) creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce. • Executive sponsor of the COVID response team, leading strategic initiatives to ensure clinical safety, employee safety, business continuity, employee wellbeing, and remote work protocols.

VP of People Strategy

Vera Whole Health

Jan 2015 – Jan 2020(5 yrs 1 mo)

• Ambassador of the organizational culture, The Vera Way. Ensuring it was scalable and aligned with values. • Executive sponsor of Vera’s Whole Health Council, setting the vision and strategy to support employee wellbeing and resilience. • Represented Vera at industry events and sales functions – sharing Vera’s people strategy and our culture differentiators. • Transformed Vera University, a vocational school, to an internal L&D dept. Creating Vera’s inaugural Onboarding and Clinical Training programs – an innovative initiative to quickly onboard and drive ROI. • Built and deployed the first Employee Engagement Survey resulting in increased engagement of ~65% and decreased turnover of ~10%, all while doubling the company. • Created Vera’s Employer Brand strategy for recruitment and growth into new markets resulting in a 25% increase in candidate applications and employer differentiation. • Led a transformative Glassdoor campaign, differentiating the company, increasing our ratings in 6 months from 3.1 to 4.8 rating and increasing the CEO ranking to 98%. • Developed and designed the first ever People Development Program, including performance management, development, improvement, and accountability resulting in a 10% increase in employee retention. • Spearheaded the creation and implementation of Vera’s compensation strategy aligning it to performance outcomes, including annual comp planning and market pricing, achieving successful board approval. • Led and trained managers on change management, our first strategic planning process, the evolution of strategic planning to OKRs, and supported the launch of an innovation funnel.

Adjunct HR Lecturer, HR Instructional Designer

University of Washington

Sep 2018 – Sep 2022(4 yrs 1 mo)

Recruited by the University of Washington’s Advisory Board to develop and teach the HRE program curriculum, shaping the future of up-and-coming leaders and HR professionals.

Co-Founder | People & Culture Exec | Strategic Advisor

Votegrity

2021 – 2022(1 yr)

B2B | Pre-Seed Startup | SaaS voting platform Recruited to serve as a Co-Founder, People and Culture Leader, and Strategic Advisor at Votegrity. Merging my start-up expertise, strategic mindset, and people first mentality to support the early growth stages of the company.

Senior HR Consultant, Performance Management

Puget Sound Energy

Sep 2014 – Jan 2015(5 mos)

B2C | Privately owned | Energy utility company Engaged by PSE to join the Ops Leadership team and lead a transformative change initiative, redesigning Customer Care performance management and coaching programs to drive efficiency and effectiveness.

Senior Director of Human Resources (now Optum, formerly Alere, formerly Free & Clear)

Alere Inc.

Oct 2011 – Jul 2014(2 yrs 10 mos)

B2B, B2G, B2Payer | Venture backed -> Acquired by Alere -> Later divested to Optum, sold to Abbott | Healthcare management services From 2005–2014, navigated high-growth expansion (140–900 employees) and led the acquisition of a partner organization while simultaneously acquiring a division of American Cancer Society. Post acquisition served as a senior business partner on leadership teams across five states and five remote business units, driving strategic initiatives, culture deployment, training, and manager onboarding. Supported growth of company to 18,000 employees globally. • Led culture workshops to shape company culture, define employee success factors, and develop methods for creating an ‘Aspire To’ culture. • Trained 20 global HR BPs on Steven Covey’s ‘The Speed of Trust’ and Roger Connors’ ‘The Oz Principle.’ • Spearheaded two domestic project teams focused on moving to a Shared Service model for the global HR team, saving time and the need for added headcount. • Selected to take part in a global team assessing the enterprise performance management tool, develop recommendations, and help launch the new tool company wide. • Supported the launch of the first Employee Engagement Survey resulting in 75% survey response rate.

Director of Human Resources (now Optum, formerly Alere)

Alere Inc.

Oct 2010 – Oct 2011(1 yr 1 mo)

• Researched, analyzed, and provided consultation to ~75 managers on employee relations, employment law, conflict resolution, performance management, and onboarding. • Headed the Employee Advisory Board responsible for designing and promoting wellness initiatives that aligned with the company’s philosophy, increasing participation from 10% to 25%. • Developed and delivered SHINE management training to all managers. • Oversaw the development of new behavioral based recruitment tools that reduced time to fill and engaged top candidates meeting quarterly recruitment goals of a 95% fill rate.

Human Resources Manager (formerly Free & Clear, acquired by Alere)

Alere Inc.

Oct 2005 – Oct 2010(5 yrs 1 mo)

• Hired ~18 employees every three weeks as part of the company's strategic, accelerated growth. • Oversaw the company’s Total Rewards strategy with a yearly benefit budget of about $3M. Negotiated plan renewals and OE with average premium rate reductions of 2%. • Fiduciarily responsible for the 401(k)-plan management including year-end testing, annual audits, and Form 5500. • Developed and delivered Harassment Prevention, HIPAA 101, Behavioral Interviewing, Performance Management, and Leave of Absence training. • Completed annual market pricing, aligning compensation strategies to performance and business goals.

Benefits Specialist (formerly VoiceStream)

T-Mobile

Aug 2000 – Apr 2005(4 yrs 9 mos)

B2C, B2B -> Acquired by Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) | Telecommunications company Supported the benefits team during a period of high growth (1,200 – 30,000 employees), supporting acquisition efforts related to benefits integration and onboarding. Served as a subject matter expert to others and was selected to manage company-wide recognition program.