I’m Esther Polman-Leonards, founder of Compass Leadership & People Advisory and an international HR leader with extensive experience in organisational transformation, business change and strategic people management.
Throughout my career, I have partnered with leadership teams across international and technically complex organisations, helping them navigate growth, restructuring, organisational change and the challenges of managing a workforce across multiple countries. My experience spans the energy and technology sectors, engineering and other international business environments.
I believe HR creates its greatest value when it is closely connected to business strategy. That means understanding the commercial reality, asking the right questions and translating strategic ambitions into practical, sustainable solutions. I combine a strategic perspective with a hands-on approach, bringing clarity to complexity and helping leadership teams turn decisions into action.
Through Compass Leadership & People Advisory, I work with organisations that need experienced HR leadership, whether to guide a transformation, strengthen their people strategy, navigate international employment challenges or provide continuity during a period of change.
My approach is direct, collaborative and pragmatic. I build trusted relationships, challenge constructively and focus on what will make a tangible difference. I understand that successful transformation is not just about structures, processes or policies. It is about people, leadership and creating the conditions for organisations to perform at their best.
My ambition is simple: to help organisations find their direction, build the leadership and people capabilities they need, and turn change into lasting impact.
