Meet the Founder
Hi, I'm Kayla Florence.
For over a decade, I've had the opportunity to build and lead recruiting and People Operations across startups in some of the fastest-moving industries. I've served as Executive Vice President of People & Culture for one of the industry's most innovative technology startups and helped build engineering organizations for groundbreaking digital health and gaming companies.
Throughout my career, I've built recruiting functions from the ground up, partnered closely with executive teams, and led People initiatives that have supported companies through every stage of growth.
At my core, I'm a recruiter.
I love the challenge of finding exceptional talent, solving complex hiring problems, and helping companies build teams that change the trajectory of their business. There's nothing more rewarding than connecting the right person with the right opportunity and seeing the impact that hire has on a company months or even years later.
But startups are where I thrive.
The pace, the ambiguity, and the opportunity to build something from the ground up pushed me far beyond recruiting early in my career. Like so many people in startups, I wore multiple hats.
What started as recruiting naturally evolved into People Operations because I realized hiring great people was only the beginning. I wanted to be part of what came next—creating an employee experience that helped people succeed long after they accepted the offer.
That curiosity led me into People Operations, where I found the same passion for building great workplaces that I'd always had for building great teams. It also shaped how I approach every client engagement today. Recruiting and People Operations aren't separate conversations—they're two sides of the same coin. The best companies don't just hire exceptional people; they create an environment where those people can thrive.
That startup mindset has stayed with me throughout my career. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions because no two companies are the same. Every business has a different vision, different challenges, and different goals. My role is to understand what makes your company unique and build an approach that supports where you are today while preparing you for what's next.
Today, I partner with founders, executives, and leadership teams to build exceptional teams, strengthen People Operations, and create workplaces where businesses and people thrive. More than anything, I love being part of the journey—helping companies solve hard problems, build great teams, and grow with intention.
Why Culture Impact Exists.
I've spent my career partnering with startups through some of their most exciting—and most challenging—stages of growth. Along the way, I've seen the same pattern over and over again: companies wait too long to invest in recruiting and People Operations.
Not because they don't care. Because they're busy building a business.
Founders wear every hat imaginable. Recruiting becomes another item on the to-do list. People Operations becomes something to figure out later. It’s an easy trap to fall into—but it comes at a cost.
Too often, recruiting is treated like filling vacancies, and People Operations is treated like the department you call when something goes wrong.
For decades, both have been underestimated, undervalued, and misunderstood.
Recruiting isn't about filling vacancies. It's about finding exceptional people, building high-performing teams, and helping companies tell a story that top talent wants to be part of.
And People Operations isn't the adult equivalent of the principal's office. It's about helping leaders lead better, creating a culture where people want to stay, and building a business people are proud to be part of.
I've seen firsthand what happens when companies wait too long. Hiring becomes reactive. Exceptional talent slips through the cracks. Managers burn out. Culture becomes something that happens to the business instead of something that's intentionally built.
That's why I created Culture Impact.
Not to be another recruiting firm or another HR consultant, but to become the partner growing companies need before today's challenges become tomorrow's roadblocks. Because when recruiting and People Operations are approached with intention, they become more than business functions. They become a competitive advantage.
The Culture Impact Approach.
At Culture Impact, we believe great culture isn't created by chance. It's the result of intentional leadership, exceptional people, and the systems that support them. That's why we partner with startups to build strong People Operations, attract exceptional talent, and create the foundation for sustainable growth.
We provide embedded People Operations and recruiting support designed to meet startups where they are. Whether you're making your first strategic hire, building your People Operations foundation, or scaling your team, we become an extension of your business—not just another vendor.
We focus on building sustainable people practices, hiring exceptional talent, and creating the infrastructure that helps companies grow with confidence.