Austin, Texas, United States
Sherri Manning is a seasoned Global CHRO, CEO, and board advisor with more than two decades of leadership experience guiding Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, private equity–backed organizations, and high-growth technology start-ups through rapid transformation. She has driven revenue from $80M to $360M while reducing headcount by nearly 50% to optimize costs, led multiple IPO readiness efforts, and spearheaded successful acquisitions exceeding $300M in value. Recognized for her ability to scale companies from early stage through IPO and beyond, she has consistently delivered results in complex, global environments and aligned human capital strategy with enterprise growth. She has opened operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. A trusted C-suite partner, she has built and executed succession planning programs, designed competitive equity and PSU plans, led global RIFs, and advised on governance and board compensation committee matters. Sherri currently serves as a global strategic advisor, where she guides companies and C-suite executives working at the intersection of SaaS, human capital, and AI on product, GTM strategy, customer feedback, and due diligence support. She is also an active member of Enterprise Ireland and PeopleTech Partners, where she contributes to investment decisions and supports the acceleration of portfolio companies. Sherri has served as CPO and scaled SaaS and technology companies through IPOs, acquisitions, and PE transitions. At Olo (NYSE:OLO), she oversaw HR strategy, succession planning, and cultural transformation while doubling revenue and reducing headcount nearly 50% and integrating $310M in acquisitions. At BigCommerce (Nasdaq:BIGC), she built the People function in preparation for its 2020 IPO, expanded operations to 8 countries, and supported revenue growth from $80M to $300M. At Q2 (NYSE:QTWO), she guided growth from $40M to $150M in revenue, expanded headcount from 130 to 740 and led the HR readiness for its IPO. Sherri’s early roles include UniversalPegasus, Dell, IBM, and Colgate Palmolive, where she led integrations, ethics and compliance programs. She is a frequent speaker and contributor to major media outlets and industry conferences, including CSNBC, HR Brew, and Bloomberg on leadership, transformation, and the intersection of technology and people. Beyond her professional work, she is an artist and global adventurer whose travels include hiking base camps, jungle trekking, snorkeling the Galapagos, and flag carrying expeditions with the Explorers Club to destinations including Antarctica.
Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team to define and execute the company's AI workforce transformation strategy, including workforce planning, operating model evolution, and AI adoption. Designed and launched the company's enterprise AI enablement program, establishing AI literacy, role-based learning pathways, governance principles, and practical adoption frameworks across the organization. Led the development of Sonatype's next-generation Employee Value Proposition (EVP), aligning talent messaging, workforce expectations, and career opportunities with the company's mission, AI strategy, and future workforce needs. Established executive team operating norms, decision-making governance, and leadership effectiveness practices to improve organizational alignment, accountability, and execution. Partner with executive leadership on organizational redesign, global workforce strategy, capability shifts, and location strategy initiatives supporting long-term growth and operational efficiency. Modernize People operations through automation, AI-enabled workflows, analytics, and scalable systems to improve employee experience and organizational effectiveness.
A consultancy that advises companies and C-suites working at the intersection of SaaS, human capital, and AI. Advises several software development companies and start-ups in the human capital space on GTM, product feedback, operational support, networking, and customer feedback and coaches c-suite leaders. – Advise the executive team quarterly to provide product feedback, GTM, and customer support for a Miami-based AI-integrated applicant tracking system (ATS) and job board, focused on modernizing recruiting workflows for HR professionals. – Consult with the founder and executive team quarterly to provide product feedback, GTM, and customer support for an ATS, corporate social networking platform and employee lifecycle management software and has reached $10M in annual revenue. – Give product feedback and GTM strategy for a 20 year+ business specializing in an intelligent compensation management SaaS platform that delivers transparent, equitable pay frameworks. – Advise the executive team quarterly to provide product feedback, GTM, and growth to an internal HR AI Agent and “Employee Activation Platform” that bridges internal marketing and HR teams to drive high-impact employee initiatives with a recent close at a $10M Series A. – PeopleTech Partners is an investment and advisory network that identifies, invests in, and accelerates leading, early-stage HR tech companies – providing product and go to market advice to portfolio companies and is a member of the due diligence committee. – Enterprise Ireland, an organization sponsored by the Irish government to help Irish technology companies seeking to expand in the US – serving as a strategic advisor.
(NYSE:OLO) A SaaS restaurant technology company with up to 700 employees and $360M in revenue. Leads HR strategy, change management, cultural transformation, and organizational development for the new IPO company. Ensured alignment with business goals during a pivotal period of growth and change to support 700 employees; leads a team of 30 across the HR lifecycle. – Led the offshoring and use of flex workforce and global low-cost centers in the U.S., Central and South America, and Europe to support cost containment and the designation of “Rule of 40” company. – Supports company revenue growth from $230M – $360M, while decreasing overall headcount by over 500 employees (almost 50%) and cutting expenses. – Refreshed and updated company values and added expected behaviors to better align with shareholder value expectation and meritocracy across the compensation process. – Developed and executed a successful Succession Planning process for the C-suite and the operating team with identified succors and relevant development plans. – Led the facility operations, real estate, ESG, and matrixed executive assistant organization and delivered an exceptional office experience that supported employee and culture development. – Led due diligence and global acquisition efforts on four deals that were valued at over $310M. – Developed a best-in-class multi-year, market competitive PSU plan for the executive team that benchmarked company performance. Developed a process to track and benchmark the equity burn rate to set baseline stock budgets tied to both executive and all employee compensation. – Supported the merger with a PE firm and developed and updated all P&C SOPs; helped the firm integrate, cut headcount, and prepare a 25% RIF to gain expected synergies. – Implemented and integrated new technologies including an HRIS, an LMS, and a platform to support employee engagement and peer-to-peer recognition.
(Nasdaq:CMRC), a 1,000 employee and $300M in revenue, high growth SaaS ecommerce company, which went IPO in August of 2020. Retained to support the board and C-suite post resignation to complete the work of designing, gaining buy-in, and rolling out the PSU plan. Trained internal successor to lead the People function while helping to transition a new CFO and GC. Supported board and C-suite communication between Board and Comp Chairs and CEO.
Hired to help the company prepare for, and IPO, while maturing and leading the People, Payroll, Equity Administration, Real Estate, Facilities, and administrative functions; led over 50 FTEs. Opened offices in US, UK, Singapore, Ukraine, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Mexico, with fulltime and flex workforces, and grew revenue from $80M to $300M and the employee population from 700 to over 1000. – Led due diligence on three acquisitions with $65M in valuation. Integrated two with full tuck-ins and one as a standalone brand while supporting their slow back-office transition. – Supported the 2020 IPO, matured the People function and developed and aligned public company compliance, regulations, and reporting a full year prior to the IPO. – Implemented and integrated new technologies including an HRIS, Applicant Tracking System (ATS), and CRM to support growth. – Launched a new job architecture that supported compensation structures, pay grades and leveling, career laddering, and benefit cost management strategies. – Launched leadership and managerial development programs and D&I surveys and programs. – Led the board material and agenda development and the board’s compensation committee meetings. – Led the equity administration team, accounting and oversight of equity awards, maintenance of the equity platform, and reporting to support regulatory filings. – Led the wining of multi-year, multi-site cultural awards for best places to work in Sydney, Australia, Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, with TopWorkPlaces.com, from 2017 – 2023 and Great Place to Work from Fortune in 2024.
A PE owned boutique healthcare consulting firm, with 400 employees with $75M in revenue, that advises healthcare systems on healthcare strategies and operations. Reported directly to CEO; hired to provide strategic leadership and mature the HR and administrative functions. – Managed due diligence and integration for a $2.5M revenue business and prepared for second equity investment round. – Supported succession planning, developed on-boarding efficiencies, new performance/promotion standards, and compliance remediation in preparation for new equity partner due diligence. – Implemented HRIS, digital record-keeping and cultural initiatives to drive recruiting and retention differentiation. – Worked closely with PE ownership on succession planning, leadership evaluation, and coaching.