Fractional People Operations Strategist for Agencies

Your team needs a manager. That doesn't have to be you.

You're scaling fast. Your team is talented—but people issues are eating your time and headspace. You didn’t start this agency to play HR.


That’s where I come in.


What I do:

  • Take team management off your plate
  • Turn your managers into leaders
  • Fix reporting lines and team structure
  • Handle conflict and performance issues early
  • Build people systems that reduce churn, friction, and founder burnout


How that helps you:

  • Less drama, more delivery.
  • Managers step up.
  • Team works better.
  • You get your brain back.


 No fluff. Just calm, clear, confident people ops that lets you lead.

“A couple years ago, I didn’t even think we needed a role like this—now I can’t imagine life without Sarah.”

- Danny Gavin, CEO, Optidge Inc.

Hi, I'm Sarah Cuesta, SHRM-CP

Fractional HR Partner & People Operations Strategist for Small/Medium Remote Teams

After 20+ years helping people thrive — from therapy rooms to fast-growing digital agencies — I’ve learned how to turn people problems into powerful business outcomes.


These days, I partner with founders and small teams to bring calm, clarity, and cohesion to their people operations. That means leading with empathy and structure: helping you build the trust, systems, and communication your team needs to perform at its best.

Whether it’s hiring the right people, resolving conflict with care, or building performance processes that actually work, I help you take the guesswork out of managing people — and give you back the time and energy to lead your business.


It’s not about adding more meetings or policies. It’s about building a culture that scales.


If your team is growing — but you're still handling HR off the side of your desk — I can help.


“We feel very confident that Sarah has our back in the day to day, but then also in thinking big picture where she can really support the growth of each team member, each department, and the company as a whole.”

- Leah Leaves, Former COO, Optidge Inc.

Fractional People Operations Strategist for remote teams who are ready to scale—without the stress

Sounds familiar?


  • You’re managing people instead of leading the business
  • Your managers are overwhelmed or under-skilled
  • Performance issues and team friction are slowing you down
  • Everyone reports to everyone—and no one’s really accountable
  • You’re building a team, not just hiring people—but you don’t have time to manage that properly


What I do:

    ✅ Take over team management and structure
    ✅ Coach your managers to lead with clarity
    ✅ Handle conflict, feedback, and underperformance head-on
    ✅ Build team-wide communication strategies that reduce friction
    ✅ Create systems for onboarding, check-ins, and feedback that don’t add overhead


The outcome:

  • A high-performing team that doesn’t rely on you
  • Managers who lead—so you don’t have to
  • Clear roles, less stress, fewer silos
  • A team culture that works in a remote environment
  • More space for you to grow, fundraise, or rest

“I don't know whether we'd have the number of team members we have, with the tenure, and still embodying our values and doing solid work if not for Sarah Cuesta.”

- Kelly Garcia - Director of Operations, Optidge Inc.

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