For Jessica Brewer, business success starts with people. As the founder of Emiz HR, Jessica is on a mission to bring care, authenticity, and inclusivity to workplaces navigating growth and change. Her journey from a challenging corporate experience to building her own HR consulting practice is fueled by one belief: organizations thrive when employees feel seen, supported, and valued. Whether coaching leaders, advising founders, or helping businesses scale their processes, Jessica brings a human-centric approach to every aspect of HR. At Humans of Fuzia, we celebrate her vision of workplaces where growth and compassion go hand in hand.
Jessica, how would you describe yourself to our readers?
I come from a very people-focused perspective, especially in the world of HR. My journey into HR started after a difficult experience leading a team during the 2008 financial crash. There was no HR support, no one to lean on, and it made me realize there had to be a better way to support both employees and managers. That experience shaped my mission to create workplaces where people are cared for, especially in times of change or growth.
Tell us about Emiz HR and your work. What services do you offer?
Emiz HR offers flexible, people-centric HR support, tailored to the needs of small and growing businesses. I work with companies of all sizes, often founder-led organizations going through growth. Some clients engage me in an advisory role—regular check-ins to coach leaders through people challenges. For others, I act as a fractional Head of HR, building strategy, leading recruitment, creating processes, and fostering a positive work culture.
I also support businesses with internal HR teams, offering project-based expertise—especially around HR software selection, automation, and improving systems. Beyond that, I coach individuals navigating career changes, redundancies, or launching their own ventures. Whether it’s advising founders or coaching managers to become better leaders, my approach is always rooted in care and creating authentic, inclusive workplaces.
Which industries do you typically work with?
My clients span media, finance, pensions, food industry, shipping, eco-energy, and beyond. But I thrive most in founder-led businesses where there’s still a personal connection to the team, and the desire to maintain a supportive, values-driven culture as the company grows.
How do clients typically discover you?
I’ve been fortunate that nearly all of my clients have come through recommendations and word-of-mouth. Before starting Emiz HR, I led the HR function at a management consultancy, where I also built strong networks. Those connections—and a very active LinkedIn presence—have kept me front of mind for past colleagues and clients, which has helped maintain a healthy pipeline of new work.
What challenges have you faced in building your business?
Wearing all the hats! Like many entrepreneurs, I started by doing everything myself—building my website, managing accounts, setting up IT. Thankfully, I’ve been able to outsource parts of that now, like marketing and technical tasks. But it’s always a learning curve, figuring out where to delegate so I can focus on what I do best: supporting businesses and people.
You started your business five years ago, what inspired that step?
Ironically, I resisted entrepreneurship for a long time, even though I come from an entrepreneurial family. I was happy being employed. But when COVID happened, I needed more flexibility and meaningful work—and launching Emiz HR became the right decision. Five years later, I’m still here and grateful for the journey.
What are your short-term goals for this year and 2025?
First, getting my new website live—it’s overdue! Beyond that, I’m focused on onboarding new clients well, implementing HR systems smoothly, and continuing to grow alongside my clients. It’s about maintaining momentum while ensuring every partnership is rooted in care and effectiveness.
What motivational message would you share with women entrepreneurs and professionals?
There’s a quote I live by from my school days: “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” At the time, we rolled our eyes—but it’s true. Success isn’t just luck. It’s about being prepared—so when opportunities come, you see them, you take them, and you own them. Especially as women, we can be quick to downplay our success. But we need to recognize our achievements, own our journeys, and be ready for when opportunities arise. You never know how things will pan out, but preparation puts you in the best possible position to succeed.
“Workplaces grow best when people feel valued. Build with care, lead with authenticity, and success will follow.”
Connect with Jessica Brewer:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabrewer/
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
