About Humanto | Meet Pooja Amin, Fractional Head of People

Why Humanto exists

Most startups don’t need “more HR.” They need clarity—clear expectations, a fair performance rhythm, hiring that doesn’t break, and managers who can lead without founders becoming the default escalation path.

Humanto exists to build the minimum effective People infrastructure that supports growth—then evolve it as headcount, complexity, and leadership layers increase.

Meet Pooja Amin

Pooja is a senior People leader who has spent over a decade partnering with venture-backed startups and scaling founders across fintech/crypto, SaaS, and consumer—building People systems that fuel sustainable growth.

Built hiring systems that cut time-to-fill by 40%

Designed performance frameworks that lifted retention by 25%+

Implemented People systems strong enough for due-diligence readiness

See how we work →

Experience includes:

What Humanto believes (and how we operate)

Human-first doesn’t mean soft. It means clear.

People do their best work when expectations, feedback, and decisions are consistent.

Systems > heroics.

If it can’t be repeated by managers without you, it won’t scale.

Adoption is the work.

Documents don’t change behavior—leaders and managers do. We design tools they’ll actually use.

What it’s like to work with Humanto

What you can expect

A clear People roadmap tied to business goals

Practical tools and templates (not theory decks)

Manager enablement and coaching for real scenarios

Calm, structured handling of sensitive people moments

Lightweight cadence that doesn’t add meeting bloat

What we won’t do

Corporate bureaucracy you don’t need

Performative “culture work” with no operating system behind it

One-size-fits-all frameworks that ignore your stage

Book Free 30-Min HR Audit

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Where Humanto helps founders most:

Stabilizing People Ops foundations (policies, lifecycle clarity, core processes)

Building hiring + onboarding systems that don’t break as you scale

Creating performance and compensation clarity that feels fair

Supporting employee relations and reducing risk

Enabling managers with the habits and tools to lead well

Explore all services →

What past clients say

Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"
Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"
Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"
Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"

What past clients say

Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"
Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"
Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"
Diana Marcela Arias
Director, Financial Intelligence Unit
“Pooja showed us that the HR title should be a company's soul for every action. Furthermore, she taught us that love and respect should always prevail no matter how difficult the path is. Still, the most important thing I could learn from her is that the true identity of the human being is found in love and respect for both business cultures as human beings culture.”
Samantha Young
Program Assistant, ICDL Dirfloortime
“Pooja coached me through a career pivot from education to HR. She helped clarify my goals, refine my resume, prep for interviews. And I got the job! Her insights were sharp, her support was flexible, and her feedback was always actionable. Highly recommend.”
John Fleming
Derivative Path, President and COO
“Pooja brought consistency and fairness to our team management, helping build a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. Her approach strengthened trust, boosted morale, and ensured every team member had equal attention and opportunity, no matter their role.”
KURT Boehringer
CFO derivative Path
“Pooja built Derivative Path’s HR from the ground up streamlining key processes and creating a foundation for global, inclusive engagement. She blends empathy with execution, navigating tough conversations while driving results with deep expertise and relentless dedication.”
Stef Schultz
ENTJ-A: Commander | Apple Alum
"Grounding discussions and cutting-edge advice, with fingers on the pulse ofthe market - Pooja is a no-nonsense human, she cuts to the chase, and she is a straight shooter who is beyond fair in all of her dealings. Can't recommend her enough, and looking forward to many future coachings!"
Dilshan Dowlah
Head of US @ Mercuryo
"Pooja single-handedly led HR at a fast-growing crypto startup, scaling the team from 20 to 100+ in under a year. She managed everything from hiring to employee support, all while shaping a strong, positive culture with passion, empathy, and relentless dedication."
Abigail Fleischman
Experienced Payment Operations Manager
"Pooja is a responsive, approachable HR pro who excels at recruiting and getting things done. She built her team from scratch, made fast progress, and always takes time to listen. Her dedication is unmatched to the point we had to remind her to unplug!"

Want to talk?

If you’re unsure what you need, start with the free audit. If you prefer email, reach out and we’ll point you to the right next step.

Book Free 30-Min HR Audit

pooja@humanto.io

Frequently asked questions

Is Humanto a consultancy or embedded People leadership?

What types of teams are the best fit?

What’s the first step to working together?

Do you work with remote or distributed teams?

Can you work alongside existing HR admin/support?

Do you handle sensitive people situations?

Frequently asked questions

Is Humanto a consultancy or embedded People leadership?

What types of teams are the best fit?

What’s the first step to working together?

Do you work with remote or distributed teams?

Can you work alongside existing HR admin/support?

Do you handle sensitive people situations?

Build People systems that scale—without hiring full-time too early

Book a free 30-minute HR Audit and we’ll map your biggest People gaps and the fastest path to fix them.

Book Free 30-Min HR Audit

Explore all services →