Trusted Compensation Strategy Experts

Zayla Partners approaches compensation consulting differently than others - we view talented people as the singular differentiator for any company’s success (including our own). Our mission is to empower our clients to be able to attract, retain and motivate their critical human capital across the employment lifecycle - and linking human capital success with long-term corporate strategy. Our seasoned compensation consultants deliver expert compensation consulting services tailored to your business needs. Specializing in executive compensation consulting, our team stands out as trusted compensation advisory partners, ensuring fair and strategic remuneration strategies for your leadership and beyond.

MEET YOUR TOTAL REWARDS EXPERT: Welcome ! I'm a seasoned Total Rewards consultant…

Email me directly at: atarki@eca-partners.com  We are a world-class Executive Search firm. Our strength lies within our process driven and systematic approach. This enables us to connect star-candidates with opportunities that are right for them – faster! We also have a network of thousands of independent top-tier management consultants.A few of my pieces in HBR and Forbes are included here below. As always, I'd appreciate hearing any comments and feedback on these.

I'm the Founder of IncentiveOps Consulting LLC, a specialized sales compensation consultancy built for companies that need clarity, rigor, and operational control over how they pay their sellers. My work sits at the intersection of incentive strategy, commission operations, and ICM implementation. I partner with revenue and finance leaders to design compensation structures that are defensible to leadership, motivating to sales teams, and built to scale — not just survive the next fiscal year. Before founding IncentiveOps, I spent 9 years in sales compensation and revenue operations where I saw firsthand how fragile most compensation operations really are: manual calculations, undocumented governance, misaligned incentives, and ICM platforms configured without a clear plan behind them. That experience is what shaped my approach. I don't just audit what's broken — I build the systems, documentation, and governance frameworks that prevent things from breaking in the first place. IncentiveOps works with clients across three engagement models: end-to-end fractional compensation operations, project-based ICM implementations, and strategic advisory for leadership teams navigating plan redesigns or rapid growth. If your compensation program is holding your revenue motion together with spreadsheets and tribal knowledge, that's exactly where I work best.

I'm a Career Consultant who specializes in Negotiation and Pay Equity. I bring years of experience working for employers at a staff firm, applicant tracking company, and professional trade association to my work with candidates and employees. I spearheaded two pay equity laws; 1) salary history bans and inclusion of pay in job postings. Over the years I have contributed and been interviewed by NPR, BBC, CNN, Boston Globe, Yahoo Finance, Hollywood Reporter, and more. Additionally, my speaking engagements and workshops have included Harvard, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Women in Construction, Boston Consulting Group, Boston Chamber of Commerce, and more. I've earned an MBA from Bentley University and a BA in Economics from College of the Holy Cross.

Sal DiFonzo offers 25+ years as compensation expert and client relationship manager who assists clients with improving financial performance, employee engagement and increasing sales through effective compensation design. He is a frequent speaker as well as the author of multiple publications and the book, "Designing Effective Incentive Compensation Plans" on Amazon. Sal is a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), a Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) and a Certified Sales Compensation Professional (CSCP).

I am a highly results-oriented and consultative global talent management senior leader skilled at bringing a breadth and depth of expertise to ideate pragmatic solutions and drive them to flawless execution for maximum impact. I am highly effective at collaborating and gaining buy-in from stakeholders, partnering successfully from the executive level down. My high standards coupled with curiosity, strong project management, and organizational skills result in high-quality work. I am a quick learner and thinker who is able to connect the dots, anticipate issues, and break down problems easily for swift resolution. I am regarded as a strategic problem solver that gets things done and gets them done right. Areas of expertise: Succession Planning - Leadership Development - Assessments - Project Management - High Potential Development - Learning - Coaching - Process Management - Performance Management - Consulting - Competency Management - Talent Systems

A published HR and Compliance Professional with over 10 years of related experience, including HR and Compliance Project Management: I have provided expert consulting services, written original content and completed high-level projects in the following areas:*Compensation/Benefits* Employment Law and Best Practice *Training/Development *SOPs/Policies/Procedures *Global HR * Recruitment and Outplacement *Payroll Practices www.employhrpro.comHave a quick question or one-off need? Get on my calendar to pick my brain: https://www.upwork.com/services/product/consulting-hr-susan-1582026967388487680?ref=project_share&tier=0

With over 35 years of experience in HR, Talent Management, Compensation, and Analytics, I am a trusted consultant and leader for organizations that want to leverage data and insights to optimize their people strategies and outcomes. As the VP, Consulting at Salary.com, I lead a team of experts who partner with clients across various industries and regions to provide customized solutions and best practices on people analytics, total rewards, and HR data governance. I am passionate about empowering managers and engaging employees through data-driven and holistic approaches to total rewards management and communication. I have presented at national HR conferences, published in reputable journals and magazines, and authored chapters on global compensation and HCM analytics. I also host the HR Data Labs podcast, where I share insights and trends on how HR can use data and analytics to drive business value and performance. I hold the HCS certificate from the Human Capital Institute and a few Coursera certificates on data science.

Rob Hadley is a founder, principal consultant, and podcast host who leverages his 20 years of experience in strategy, operational excellence, and analytics to help organizations create engaging and inclusive employee experiences to enhance organizational performance. He is the founder and principal of Tekano Strategy & Analytics, a consulting firm that provides data-driven solutions for people and culture, employee experience, and DEI&B challenges. Rob is also the co-host of the award-winning Leadership and Innovation Unlocked podcast, which explores how real leaders leverage the principles of inclusion to drive organizational performance. Rob is a frequent speaker at conferences and for companies on organizational culture and innovation. Rob holds an MBA in Finance and Management from the Wharton School and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Named one of Workforce Management's 2011 "Game Changers" in HR,Owner: PersonalityOnaPage.com Career Consulting & Resume Revision & TMurrayHRTech.com HR Operations & Technology ConsultingSolid Information Technology, Human Resources and Project Management Professional with 14+ years of experience working with organizations of all sizes to select, implement and manage new technology, particularly in the HR space, improve core talent management processes and provide HR organizations with the tools and best practices necessary to add value to the core business. Career Consulting Specialties: Resume Revision, LinkedIn Profiles, Interview Prep, Cover Letters, Executive Bios, Job Search ConsultingHR Operations/Technology Specialties: Recruiting & Applicant Tracking Systems, HRIS/HRMS, Talent Management Processes/Systems, Learning Management Systems, HRIS Vendor Selection, HRIS Implementation

Passionate about Talent Acquisition with demonstrated success using Skills Based Hiring. Experienced working in multiple industries including hospital & health care, retail, insurance, and a variety of other industries. Over 10 years' experience in operationalizing and working with a skills-based hiring process and several years as a consultant with HireReach (www.hirereach.org). Skilled with the Selection and hiring process which includes Preparation, Building the Candidate Pool, Application Review, Candidate Engagement, Assessments (www.jofiscore.com), Interview and Selection and Offer. Published Guidebook on Amazon, Talent Acquistion Essential Skills Guidebook. Additional Human Resources experience with compensation, benefits, and employee relations. In addition to Talent Acquistion, experienced with Career Navigation using a data driven approach along with a structured process to help participants identify a career path that is aligned with their knowledge, skills, abilities, interest and personality. JL HR Consulting, LLC/LinkedIn

Global Talent strategist reimagining how companies hire, develop & lead in the AI/digital era. Almost 20 years driving transformation at Fortune 500s, including 14 award-winning years at Cummins. Frequent speaker and podcast host helping leaders navigate change strategically and adapt to the future of work with confidence.

I am a trailblazing people and culture executive with experience building high-performing organizations in the life sciences, biotech, pharma, manufacturing, tech, telecommunications, logistics, fashion, travel and aviation sectors. I combine strategic vision with deep empathy and cross-functional relationship building to unlock both individual and business potential, specializing in scaling people operations for high-growth companies. My approach centers on authentic leadership and harnessing data-driven decision-making to consistently deliver demonstrated success. Throughout my career, I've driven significant organizational transformations, including growing companies 588% in headcount, reducing new hire turnover by 35%, and delivering $3.5M+ in cost savings through innovative talent management solutions. As a trusted C-suite advisor and board partner, I've led 7+ successful M&A integrations with up to $1.1B in value, built elite P&C functions from the ground up, and championed initiatives that resulted in recognition as an employer of choice. I am a passionate people leader who thrives in fostering cultures where employees thrive and businesses excel. I am an impeccable relationship builder with expansive industry experience & expertise with a relentless dedication to creating transformational people experience teams that drive employee engagement, disrupt the status quo, and position the company for maximum performance, competitive advantage, and bottom-line growth.

I’m the CEO of The Kanthal Group, where I work with C-Suite executives and senior leadership teams who are dealing with trust breakdowns, team friction, and conversations no one wants to have out loud. I’m often brought in when performance issues aren’t about strategy, but about the people involved. Misalignment at the top. Avoided feedback. Artificial harmony. Decisions that stall because no one is saying what they really think. My work focuses on helping leaders cut through that noise and head trash, and address the reality unfolding inside their teams. I specialize in executive communication, team performance, trust, and feedback. I help leaders understand how trust is earned, eroded, and rebuilt, how feedback lands versus how it’s intended, and how leaders can unintentionally create defensiveness, silence, or disengagement on their teams. I don’t speak in psych jargon or leadership clichés. My perspective comes from years of working inside organizations and coaching leaders in high-stakes moments where relationships, results, and reputations are all on the line. Media often come to me for clear, quotable insight on leadership behavior, workplace dynamics, conflict, decision-making, and the human side of performance. I’m direct, practical, and willing to challenge popular narratives when they don’t match reality.

I am a business-savvy HR professional with 10+ years of experience advancing talent management, compensation, DEIB, training, people operations and performance management initiatives. In partnership with my team, I work to drive employee engagement, resolve complex issues, and promote regulatory compliance. By drawing on my strategic planning and change management skills, I enhance HR policies and operations to ensure clients have the reliable business partner needed to drive improvements and implement organizational change.

R. Scott Armstrong is a wildly different business leader, adventure motorcyclist, and extreme skier with a plain spoken point of view: professionals need to stop proving how smart they are and start earning trust. A marketing professional, lecturer, author, and global agency CEO, Scott helps professional‑services firms turn smart experts into trusted advisors. Over a career leading client work for major brands, he learned the hard way that professional self‑orientation kills relationships and most professionals are never taught how to build trust instead. At his marketing agency Brainrider, Scott leads a trust‑based client model so client work lands on time, on strategy, and on budget. Cleaner execution, fewer surprises, and a client who feels in control again. Through his consulting firm Win the Question and his upcoming book "From Asshole to Ally: Earning Trust, Winning Questions, and Becoming the Professional Clients Want to Work With", Scott teaches practical tools for handling high‑stakes client conversations: listening to learn, framing what is really going on, and “winning the question” before racing to answers. His work is built for ambitious mid‑career professionals in agencies, consulting firms, law firms, accounting firms, and other organizations where people are paid for their judgment, not just their time. Early in his career, Scott was the classic ambitious expert—fast, certain, and focused on winning the room. It worked until it didn’t. After painful lessons with clients like Meta, Miller, and AT&T, he realized that his need to prove how smart he was was quietly killing trust. That experience led him to the Trust Equation and the core idea behind his work today: stop winning the answer, start winning the question. Today, Scott helps professional-services organizations rewire how their people show up when the stakes are high. His keynote, Win the Question: The Asshole Antidote, gives leaders clear language for self-oriented behavior and a practical picture of what “better” looks like in real client conversations. His workshop, Advanced Client Skills for Ambitious Professionals, turns those ideas into repeatable habits. Outside of work, he puts the same judgment and communication skills to use in high-risk environments. He is avalanche safety and wilderness first-aid trained, and believes the thinking that keeps you alive in the backcountry is exactly what keeps professionals useful when the terrain gets risky.

Talent Acquisition expert with a passion for helping businesses and individuals thrive.

My clients are scoring 25-90% gains in their salaries. I help ambitious leaders to build resumés that show them in their true light. Let me help you discover your actual accomplishments and business wins and I'll coach you on the tools and narratives you need to cut through the competition and have an advantageous seat at the table. Real content. Real strategy. No fluff.