When experience meets authenticity, real workplace transformation becomes possible
In an era where workplace culture can make or break an organization, Dr. Keri Ohlrich brings a refreshingly direct approach to HR leadership that cuts through corporate noise. As co-founder of Abbracci Group and author of two acclaimed books, Ohlrich has spent over two decades helping organizations move beyond checkbox compliance to create genuinely transformative workplace cultures.
“I want to improve people’s lives, and HR is one of the best ways to do that,” Ohlrich explains from her Southern California office. “If you can impact 6,000 leaders and make them happier, they will then impact 14,000 employees. That’s where the real change happens.”
The Psychology Behind Workplace Transformation
Ohlrich’s journey into HR began with a psychology degree and a fascination with human behavior. What she discovered early in her Fortune 500 career was that HR offered something unique: “You can do this subversive psychology in companies where they don’t know you’re trying to help them, but you are.” This insight has shaped her approach to working with senior leaders, recognizing that effective HR requires meeting executives where they are, not where you think they should be.
Her first book, The Way of the HR Warrior (2018), emerged from frustration with how HR professionals were perceived and equipped for their roles. “HR is such a powerful role, yet it’s often disrespected,” she notes. “I saw HR people not having the skills they needed.” The book, co-authored with Monica Frede, addresses this gap by providing practical strategies for HR professionals to become more strategic and influential within their organizations.
From Corporate Executive to Entrepreneurial Partner
After years in corporate leadership roles, Ohlrich and her business partner Kelly Guenther founded Abbracci Group in 2017. Their transition from corporate executives to fractional HR consultants wasn’t planned—it evolved from a shared realization that they wanted to work with leaders who genuinely valued HR partnership.
“We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we worked with people who really wanted HR and paid for it’ and said, ‘We actually want to partner with strong HR people?’” Ohlrich recalls. Today, Abbracci Group specializes in fractional HR services, primarily serving small to medium-sized companies up to 250 employees, often supporting earlier-stage HR professionals who need strategic guidance and coaching.
Navigating the Complexities of Leadership
One of Ohlrich’s most valuable insights centers on understanding different types of leaders and adapting her approach accordingly. She identifies three categories: leaders who naturally embrace good practices (“Well, of course, we’ll do it the right way”), those who are genuinely resistant to change, and the promising middle group—leaders who haven’t been exposed to effective HR practices but are open to learning.
“There are some leaders—and these are some of my favorites—where you have to figure out if they’re toxic or if they just have never seen good HR,” she explains. “You can help them see the long-term consequences they hadn’t considered.”
This nuanced understanding aligns well with the work that employment law firms like Aecus Law see daily. Both HR consultants and employment attorneys recognize that workplace issues rarely exist in black and white. As Ohlrich puts it, employment law is very much in the gray, “It’s like this gray stuff that you’ve got to help them tease out and figure out how to manage.”
The Art of Strategic Communication
Ohlrich has mastered the art of translating HR concerns into business language that resonates with senior executives. Rather than simply citing legal requirements, she frames discussions around business impact and risk management.
“I like to say, ‘If I’m in the jury box and I see this, I don’t care what you said earlier—this looks horrible. I’m going to give this person $3 million,'” she shares. “The PR parts, the optics—you have to put it in their language. Most CEOs like to question things, so HR needs to have better language than just saying ‘it’s the law.'”
This approach mirrors the preventive counsel that employment law firms provide, helping organizations understand not just what’s legally required, but what practices will withstand scrutiny if challenged.
Proactive Culture Work: Prevention Over Reaction
While Ohlrich acknowledges that organizations have become more sophisticated in discussing culture and employee engagement, she emphasizes the ongoing challenge of moving from talk to action.”We expect retention programs, culture work, companies to be able to articulate their culture and values. Business leaders know how important this is,” she observes. “The question is: do they follow through when pressure mounts?”
Her second book, Whatever the Hell You Want, co-authored with Guenther, explores this theme of authentic living and working. Born from stories shared on The Breakout, the book addresses how people—and by extension, organizations—often limit themselves by living according to others’ expectations rather than their authentic values.
The Human Element in Change Management
Ohlrich’s Prosci certification in change management informs her understanding that organizational transformation requires more than good intentions. “As humans, we’re not the most proactive,” she notes with characteristic honesty. “If we were, we’d all be super healthy, get our mammograms and colonoscopies, and be doing squats instead of eating chocolate.”
This human-centered perspective helps her work more effectively with leaders who resist change.”Sometimes you have to let them fail. They go, ‘Oh, that was bad, I can’t do that again,’ which is very difficult when you want to be a proactive person.”
Commonalities and Partnering: HR and Legal Partnership
The intersection of Ohlrich’s work with that of employment law firms like Aecus Law becomes clear when examining the challenges both face. Whether conducting workplace investigations, implementing culture changes, or advising on complex employee relations issues, both HR consultants and employment attorneys must navigate the gray areas of human behavior and organizational dynamics.
Both professions recognize that the most effective solutions often involve understanding the human psychology behind workplace conflicts, meeting leaders where they are, and providing practical guidance that protects both organizations and employees. As Ohlrich puts it, “You have to figure out how to explain it to them. Talk to them in a different way. Meet them where they are.”
Building Bridges for Better Workplaces
Through her books, podcast, and consulting work, Ohlrich continues to advocate for HR professionals who are both compassionate and courageous—warriors who can navigate complex organizational dynamics while keeping human dignity at the center of their work. Her approach offers a blueprint for creating workplaces where both business objectives and human needs can thrive.
For employment law and HR professionals looking to make lasting impact, Ohlrich demonstrates the power of combining technical expertise with authentic relationship-building and strategic communication. In a field where success often depends on preventing problems before they escalate, her proactive, psychology-informed approach offers valuable lessons for creating genuinely healthy workplace cultures.
To learn more about Keri Ohlrich’s work, visit abbraccigroup.com or explore her books “The Way of the HR Warrior” and “Whatever the Hell You Want.” For employment law guidance and workplace culture solutions, visit www.aecuslaw.com.