Building a product-based business brings endless “people operations” challenges: unclear roles, onboarding confusion, turnover, and the myth that formal people-ops equals “corporate.” In this week’s She Sells Differently episode, Kerri Roberts of Salt & Light Advisors shatters that myth and shares a blueprint for small-business people operations that empower your team—and free up your time.
Kerri’s resume—from healthcare HR to COO/CMO roles and then launching her own firm in April 2023—proves that strategic people operations can thrive anywhere. Her courage to leave a high-paying C-suite role and build a business on her own terms teaches us that confidence in people-ops comes only after “doing it scared.”
But freedom doesn’t mean chaos. Even a two-person shop needs:
- Defined Roles & SOPs for every essential task
- Onboarding Rituals at 30/60/90 days to set expectations
- Performance Metrics to keep small teams aligned
- Tech Stack Clarity—no overlapping tools
- Culture Touchpoints—monthly check-ins, peer forums, gratitude rituals
Want a no-fluff way to get started? Open ChatGPT, hit record on your mic, and talk through your people-ops mess. The AI will spit back a draft org chart, SOP templates, and a roadmap. Then level up by joining Kerri’s HR in a Box for monthly lessons, Q&A, and a dedicated people-ops network. For deeper support, her fractional people operations audits pinpoint your gaps and deliver a prioritized action plan.
👉 Listen now to build people operations that support real growth—and reclaim your freedom to do what you love.
