In today’s competitive business landscape, scaling a company successfully requires more than just smart strategies and financial acumen—it demands an understanding of people. Beth Barratt-Browne, the Founder and fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) of Better HRx, is reshaping the way organisations approach HR by prioritising people at the core of business growth.
Better HRx provides executive-level HR support without the burden of full-time overhead—ideal for growing businesses that need expert guidance but aren’t ready for a full-time HR executive. The company provides tailored, strategic HR leadership aligned with the unique needs of businesses as they evolve. Whether helping founders with human-centered design, addressing leadership challenges, strengthening organisational culture, or working alongside existing HR teams to enhance their perspective and development, Better HRx’s philosophy is rooted in collaboration, clarity, and results.
Founded by Barratt-Browne, a seasoned CPO and board advisor with over two decades of experience, Better HRx focuses on addressing complex people-related challenges businesses face, including compliance, culture, talent acquisition, leadership development, and workforce strategy.
Start with Yourself: The Foundation for Thriving Teams
At the heart of Better HRx’s philosophy is a simple but powerful truth: how a business treats its people begins with how the founder treats themselves.
Beth Barratt-Browne believes thriving, engaged employees don’t happen by accident—they’re a direct result of how intentionally a business is built from the beginning. That includes how founders lead, structure, and communicate from day one.
“Your first employee is you,” Barratt-Browne says. “The way you lead yourself sets the tone for how you’ll lead others.”
Founders who are clear on their role, values, and direction attract aligned talent and set the groundwork for a high-performance culture. Early HR decisions—especially the first few hires—shape everything that follows, from team cohesion to long-term growth.
Rather than waiting until people problems arise, Better HRx helps businesses establish a solid foundation right from the start. It’s about treating culture as a strategy, not an afterthought.
“We want to build better relationships between humans and work—one organisation at a time,” says Barratt-Browne. “That starts by helping founders create environments where both they and their people can thrive.”
By supporting leaders to model clarity, intentionality, and care from the outset, Better HRx helps build workplaces where engagement and performance go hand in hand.
[Interview by JT Foxx, Sydney 2024]
Human-Centered Design: Empowering Confident Management
Better HRx also prioritises human-centred design—understanding and responding to the unique needs of employees at every stage of their career journey. This includes recognising how people best take on information, how they prefer to receive feedback, and how they are motivated to contribute to the success of the organisation. By considering these factors, businesses can empower confident managers who are equipped to lead their teams more effectively.
“The way we design our people strategies must be grounded in how people work best,” says Barratt-Browne. “When leaders understand the needs of their teams and communicate in ways that resonate with individuals, they build stronger, more cohesive teams.”
From talent acquisition to leadership alignment and development, Better HRx helps businesses create a people strategy that fosters trust, engagement, and growth. The company is committed to demystifying HR strategy and making it accessible for leaders who are not necessarily HR experts but who want to create an environment where people can thrive.
The Importance of Transparency and Action
A key part of Better HRx’s philosophy is addressing people challenges head-on. Barratt-Browne advises business leaders to be transparent and address any people-related issues immediately or as soon as possible.
“A people problem that is left unresolved will only get worse over time,” Barratt-Browne cautions. “Leaders must be willing to face difficult conversations early and take prompt action to ensure that their teams remain engaged and aligned.”
This proactive approach is at the core of Better HRx’s ability to help businesses manage change, growth, and risk. The company believes that businesses can solve “real ‘people problems’”, not just HR tasks, and that addressing issues early leads to more effective and sustainable outcomes.
Fractional CPO Support: A Smart, Flexible Model
Better HRx offers fractional Chief People Officer (CPO) services—a model that provides businesses with expert HR leadership without the need for a full-time, in-house CPO. This model is particularly beneficial for businesses that need expert guidance but do not require full-time HR support.
[Shared business insights with Joe Foster (Founder of Reebok) and Jim Keyes (Former CEO of Blockbuster and 7-Eleven)]
“This approach is a smart business decision,” Barratt-Browne says. “Fractional HR support allows businesses to access top-tier HR expertise on a flexible, cost-effective basis. It’s a way for organisations to ensure they are making the right people decisions without the financial burden of a full-time executive.”
The fractional model also allows Better HRx to draw upon a global network of HR experts, providing businesses with access to a wealth of knowledge and experience tailored to their specific needs. This flexibility ensures that businesses can scale their HR capabilities in step with their growth, ensuring they always have the support they need at the right time.
An Experienced Leader with a Proven Track Record
Beth Barratt-Browne’s credibility in HR is backed by over 20 years of experience in executive roles across both public and private sectors. As a seasoned CPO and board advisor, she has worked with CEOs, founders, and leadership teams to solve complex people challenges and drive business success.
“My approach to HR is grounded in real-world experience,” Barratt-Browne notes. “I’ve been in the trenches—leading teams, navigating complex organisational changes, and helping businesses grow. I understand the challenges that come with scaling a business, and I’m here to help founders and leaders solve their people challenges so they can focus on what really matters.”
Barratt-Browne’s shift from internal roles to strategic consultancy has given her the opportunity to work with a wide range of organisations, each with its own unique set of challenges. This breadth of experience allows her to bring fresh perspectives to the businesses she works with while providing practical, actionable solutions that drive results.
Conclusion
Better HRx’s human-centred, results-driven approach to HR leadership is transforming the way businesses think about people strategy. By offering flexible, fractional CPO support and leveraging over two decades of HR expertise, the company is helping founders and business leaders create workplaces where employees can thrive and businesses can scale successfully. With a focus on clarity, action, and collaboration, Better HRx is setting a new standard for HR leadership in the modern business world.
Learn more at Better HRx or connect with Beth Barratt-Browne on LinkedIn—and discover how human-centred leadership can drive sustainable growth.
