You Shouldn't Have to Make the Hardest People Calls in Your Company Alone.
That's the whole reason Proven HR exists.
Serious about HR. Human about everything else.
You didn't start your company to become its HR department. But there you are, holding the termination that could go sideways, the hire you can't get wrong, the thing that feels off but won't sit still long enough to name. And you're mostly holding it by yourself, usually late, usually on a Sunday.
It doesn't have to be that lonely. That's what we're here for.
Hi, I'm Jennifer Doherty
I started Proven HR because I kept watching good companies pay for the same thing: capable leaders carrying hard people decisions alone, and losing good people over problems that were fixable.
I spent years inside organizations that undervalued their people and paid for it in turnover and missed opportunities. I knew there was a better way to do this. So now we do it.
Proven HR helps companies like yours handle the messy, high-stakes people stuff with a steady hand, straight answers, and advice that holds up in the real world, not just on paper.
You'll always get the honest version, even when it isn't what you were hoping to hear. That's the whole point of us.
Credentials
- BA Honours, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Saint Mary’s University
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management, Saint Mary’s University
- Master’s in Human Resources & Industrial Relations, University of Toronto
- 20+ years of cross-industry HR experience, including legal, media, communications, IT, and regulatory sectors
Translation: You’ll get advice that’s been pressure-tested in dozens of industries and hundreds of situations, not just theories from a textbook.
Just JK-ing Podcast
Curious about the future of work, leadership, and culture?
Catch Jennifer Doherty and Kim Tabac on Just JK-ing, where they tackle the big (and sometimes uncomfortable) conversations about what it really takes to build dynamic workplaces today.
Clients say...
I highly recommend partnering with Jennifer as an HR specialist for any incubator or accelerator. Her extensive experience in supporting startups has proven invaluable for PEI founders as they navigated the challenges of scaling their businesses and onboarding new employees.
Many entrepreneurs are driven by their passion for their products, but often lack the HR expertise necessary for sustainable growth. Jennifer excels in bridging this gap with her remarkable ability to simplify the complexities of HR, empowering founders to focus on their vision rather than getting bogged down in HR management.
By connecting the Startup Zone founders with Jennifer, they enhanced their growth potential and received the essential support needed to thrive. Her guidance alleviated stress and equipped PEI startups with the tools to build strong, scalable teams. I wholeheartedly endorse collaborating with Jennifer and believe working with her will greatly benefit any entrepreneurial community.
Shelby McDonald
Former CEO, Startup Zone, PEI
As my creative agency grew, we got to the point where I could no longer handle all of the HR duties by myself. We were so blessed to be introduced to Jennifer Doherty and her team. Jennifer made it so easy to get up and running. We got to work directly with Jennifer, which was amazing. Other HR services we had experimented with over the years tried to fit us into their set programs, but Jennifer was extremely flexible to meet us where we were at and deliver exactly what we were looking for. Some highlights included rebranding our HR Department to become People+ Experience. Jennifer and her team worked hard to make our people the focus of everything we did, while providing our people with an incredible experience day in and day out. Jennifer and I had a regular bi-weekly meeting to go over all open initiatives and to do items. She accomplished everything we asked for, and much, much more. We could not recommend Jennifer highly enough. I encourage you to give her a try – you’ll be glad that you did.
Adam McWethy
COO, BLVR.com
Working with Jess over the past year has been an absolute pleasure. Her strategic approach has reshaped my understanding of HR’s potential impact on an organization. Jess swiftly gained the respect and trust of our team, seamlessly integrating like an internal team member rather than an “outside” consultant. As CEO, having quality HR support has been a huge relief, and I would strongly recommend Jennifer and her team to any leader seeking quality HR guidance and support.
Susan Brandt
President & CEO, Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Jennifer is an invaluable asset to our business. As our agency started to grow in headcount we considered hiring a fulltime HR Manager but ultimately determined that what Jennifer and her team can deliver on a fractional basis far exceeded our expectations. Her ability to build and implement an HR framework from the ground up, own and execute on HR projects, and most critically, provide regular strategic HR-related advice has allowed us to continue to grow and focus on other areas of our business with confidence. I highly recommend any business to consider working with Jennifer and her team.
Dustin Charne
Co-Founder / Head of Client Services, Method Recruiting
I can’t say enough about my positive experience with Jennifer as our HR Consultant for The Travel Store. Jennifer understood our unique challenges immediately, and really took ownership of helping to improve not only our HR function but the business generally. She has coached and guided me in making future plans, advised on how to address difficult issues, and reassures me at every step of the way. Her experience shines through, and she confidently forges ahead in finding solutions that make sense. I have felt that this has been a partnership, that she truly cares about the success of my business, and that she will be there to coach and advise me long into the future. I really feel I hit the jackpot in working with Jennifer!
Paulette Soloman
Owner, The Travel Store
I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer on a variety of HR consulting projects here in PEI. She is trustworthy, honest, direct and very knowledgeable about the day to day as well as the business side of HR. She takes the time to understand the unique needs of her clients and delivers exceptional results. She is a great mentor, and teacher and always follows through on her commitments. I highly recommend Jennifer, she is a true professional.
Ashlee London, CPHR
Talent Recruitment Specialist, Innovation PEI
Jennifer is a highly talented HR professional that brings a wealth of expertise to any organization and a keen ability to execute on all of her commitments. At Aspin Kemp, she quickly assessed the HR function, assembled a qualified and engaged team, developed a comprehensive plan and exercised sound judgment in prioritizing projects of highest importance. She demonstrated a high level of business acumen during all senior management discussions. I would highly recommend her as a positive contributor to the success of any organization.
Tim MacEachern
Sr. Project Manager / Head of PMO, SpryPoint
I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer on the Town of Stratford Compensation Study project where Jennifer acted as the lead HR Consultant and I was Project Manager. Jennifer’s friendly and outgoing nature proved to be a great resource on the project as she has a way of making clients feel comfortable combined with her extensive knowledge of Human Resources, Labour issues and compensation planning knowledge allowed us to provide the client with an excellent report that was presented to the Town’s Human Resources Committee. I would happily work with Jennifer again in the future.
Chris Harris
Project Manager, Department of Veteran’s Affairs
I had the pleasure of working with Jennifer during her time as HR Director at Aspin Kemp & Associates. Jennifer was able to establish and build a strong HR team during a period of significant growth and transition for the company. She brought a high level of professionalism and integrity to the position as well as an ability to develop long term employee engagement strategies.
Paul Jamer
President, Breakwater Group
I am pleased to provide a recommendation for Jennifer. She was part of a team that completed a staff compensation and classification review for our organization. Jennifer was very knowledgeable, capable and thorough and I would not hesitate to recommend her for a similar engagement.
Robert Hughes
Governance Innovator
Jennifer has an in-depth knowledge of human resources, excellent attention to detail and a high degree of professionalism. Her capacity to analyze human resource issues and find appropriate solutions would be a great asset to any organization. She also has strong HR planning skills where she could play a key role in a growing organization.
Vivian Beer
Manager, HR Strategy, PEI BioAlliance
Jennifer is a seasoned HR professional who quickly and effectively handles all HR issues, from the mundane details to the complex issues. I worked with her on an organization’s compensation review that was presented on time, on budget and greatly appreciated by the client. I would be very pleased to work with Jennifer again.
Hugh Paton
Strategic Partner, Connolly Group