So You Want to Go Solo? An HR Leader's Guide to Independent Consulting

Honest advice. Real experiences. Practical guidance from HR leaders who’ve already made the leap.

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Front cover of Going Solo guide

Honest advice. Real experiences. Practical guidance from HR leaders who’ve already made the leap.

Thinking about leaving corporate life and becoming an independent HR consultant?

You’re not alone. Many experienced HR leaders reach a point where they want more freedom, flexibility and impact. The path from HR director to independent consultant is rarely straightforward.

This free guide shares candid insights from HR leaders who have already made the transition. They talk openly about what worked, what surprised them and what they wish they had known at the start.

If you are wondering whether independent consulting could be your next chapter, this guide will help you think it through with clarity and confidence.

What you get in this Guide

 

  • 5 candid lessons HR consultants wish they’d known sooner

  • Checklists, self-assessments and launch-readiness tools

  • A practical PCT framework to help you shape your offer

  • Real mistakes (and how to avoid them)

  • Insights from seasoned consultants who’ve built fulfilling solo careers

  • Reflection prompts to help you clarify your next move

Front cover of Going Solo guide

Who This Guide is For

The move from HR leader to independent consultant can feel exciting, uncertain and sometimes overwhelming.

This guide was created to help experienced HR professionals explore the transition with practical insight from people who have already done it.

It is particularly useful if you are:

• A senior HR leader thinking about what comes after corporate life

• An HR director exploring independent consulting or advisory work

• A people professional considering a portfolio career

• Someone wondering how to turn years of HR experience into an independent business

If the question “Could I actually do this?” has crossed your mind, this guide will help you start answering it.

Why this guide exists

The People Space works closely with HR leaders across the profession and we repeatedly hear the same question:

“What happens if I want to step away from corporate HR?”

To answer that question, we spoke with experienced HR consultants who have built successful independent careers and asked them to share the lessons they learned the hard way.

Their advice forms the heart of this guide.

HR leaders saying what surprised them most about going independent

Created by The People Space, a trusted voice for HR leaders exploring the future of work.