Since 2015, BLANKSLATE Partners has been the Operations and HR Partner for owners and operators who need things built right. Not templated. Not overcomplicated. Built for how your business actually runs.
How we work
We show up as partners, not vendors. That means we learn your business, work within your constraints, and give you honest, practical advice that moves things forward. Every client engagement is different. The work reflects that. We draw on more than 600 client engagements to bring what actually makes sense in every new situation.
We’ve run many businesses: we understand that the best practices aren’t always what’s practical for you right now. With BLANKSLATE Partners, you get a team of experts that you would have if you were an enterprise level company, not just a generalist, who may have touched on every area but not worked on them in depth. That means that you get the highest level of work for a budget that works for you, and we work hourly or on retainer, whatever fits your budget best.
What we stand for
Partnership
Partnership is so important to us that we put it in the name of the company. Without it, nothing works. We don’t take work we can’t deliver on, but we need your input, and the relationship has to work for both sides.
Creativity
There is more than one way to solve a problem, and not every solution fits every company. It’s about finding what’s right for your needs: we work with your reality, not a framework we built for a different business.
Learning
We come from a place of humility, and are continuously improving our industry knowledge. The workplace keeps changing, and we stay current with how work is evolving so we can bring that knowledge to every client.
Meet the team
Izzie O'Hara
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Izzie O'Hara
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does "fractional" mean, exactly?
Fractional means we work with your business as a dedicated, embedded partner without being a full-time hire. You get a senior-level Operations and HR team that fits your budget and your stage, on a model that scales as you grow. Most of our clients are not ready for a full-time senior HR leader. Fractional is how they get that capability anyway.
Do I always work with the same team member?
No, you work with the team member that is strongest in the field of the work you need executed at any given time. You’ll always have one primary account manager who understands your business and your needs, and they will bring in other experts as required.
What kinds of businesses do you work with?
Mostly owners and operators of small and medium sized businesses. The industries vary, from engineering and construction to tech, retail, agriculture, and professional services. What they tend to have in common is that the business is running well but the people and operations side hasn’t kept pace. That’s usually where we come in.
How long does a typical engagement last?
It depends on what you need. Some engagements are project-based and run a few months. Others are ongoing, where we work as your Operations and HR function over time. We figure out the right structure at the start based on what you are actually dealing with.
Do you work only in Canada, or only in certain regions?
We work primarily with Canadian and US Companies, and those companies have teams in Europe, Asia, the US, and Canada. For recruiting, we hold the required BC, Ontario, and International licenses. We are not licensed in Saskatchewan.
How is BLANKSLATE different from a typical Operations and HR consulting firm?
We’ve run many businesses: we understand what it takes to succeed outside of Operations and HR, and that the best practices aren’t always what’s practical for you right now. We are seasoned professionals and understand the nuances of employment regulations and business operations, and when to involve specialised external parties to make sure you’re covered. We always have someone to refer you to for those needs.
We’re a team of experts that you would have if you were an enterprise level company, not just a generalist, who may have touched on every area but not worked on them in depth. That means that you get the highest level of work for a budget that works for you, and we work hourly or on retainer, whatever fits your budget best.
We have been doing this since 2015, across more than 600 client engagements, and the approach has stayed the same: learn the business, give honest advice, and build things that actually hold up. We work as partners, not vendors.