About Us

Friendlinesseszx team at office headquarters

Our Journey

Friendlinesseszx was founded in 2009 by Elaine Harrington and James Chen, two seasoned HR executives who recognized a critical gap in the corporate consulting landscape. After years of witnessing organizations struggle with disconnected HR strategies and leadership approaches, they envisioned a consulting firm that would bridge these gaps by focusing on human connection as the foundation for organizational success.

Starting as a small two-person operation in downtown Winnipeg, our firm quickly gained recognition for our innovative approach to talent management and leadership development. By 2012, we had expanded our team to include specialists in organizational psychology, change management, and employee engagement strategies, allowing us to serve clients across Canada.

The watershed moment for Friendlinesseszx came in 2015 when we partnered with Manitoba's largest financial institution to completely reimagine their leadership development program. The success of this initiative - which resulted in a 43% improvement in employee engagement and a 27% reduction in executive turnover - established our reputation as pioneers in human-centered organizational transformation.

Today, with a team of over 25 consultants and coaches, we serve organizations across North America, helping them build resilient, effective teams and leadership structures that drive sustainable business success while prioritizing employee wellbeing and organizational health.

Our Mission & Values

Our mission is to transform organizational cultures by building human connections that enable both people and businesses to thrive.

At Friendlinesseszx, we believe that organizations achieve sustainable success when they create environments where people feel valued, connected, and empowered. Our approach is rooted in the understanding that effective HR strategies must align business objectives with human needs and potential.

Human-Centered Approach

We place people at the center of every strategy, recognizing that organizational success begins with understanding and addressing human needs, motivations, and potential.

Evidence-Based Innovation

Our recommendations and methodologies are grounded in research and data, combined with creative approaches that address the unique challenges of each organization.

Collaborative Partnership

We work alongside our clients as true partners, transferring knowledge and building internal capabilities to ensure sustainable long-term success.

Inclusive Excellence

We champion diversity of thought, background, and experience, recognizing that the most effective organizations leverage the full spectrum of human perspectives and talents.

Meet Our Leadership Team

Our team of experienced consultants brings diverse expertise from various industries and disciplines, united by a shared passion for transforming workplaces into thriving communities.

Elaine Harrington

Co-Founder & CEO

With over 20 years of experience in corporate HR leadership at Fortune 500 companies, Elaine specializes in executive coaching and organizational structure optimization. She holds an MBA from Queen's University and is a certified Executive Coach.

James Chen

Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer

James brings deep expertise in organizational psychology and change management. Before co-founding Friendlinesseszx, he led talent development for a major tech corporation and holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from University of Toronto.

Monique Baptiste

Director of Leadership Development

Monique leads our leadership coaching practice, bringing 15 years of experience in developing high-performance teams. She specializes in emotional intelligence and inclusive leadership, and is a sought-after speaker on leadership trends.

Derek Winters

Director of Organizational Consulting

Derek oversees our organizational structure and culture transformation practice. With background in both management consulting and internal HR leadership, he brings practical insights to complex organizational challenges.

Our Achievements & Expertise

Over the past decade, we've helped hundreds of organizations transform their workplace culture and leadership capabilities. Here are some of our key accomplishments:

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Industry Recognition

Recipient of the HR Excellence Award in 2022 and the Best Leadership Development Program Award in 2021, recognizing our innovative approaches and client impact.
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Client Success Stories

Our clients report an average 38% improvement in employee engagement scores and 42% reduction in leadership turnover after implementing our recommended strategies.
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Global Reach

We've worked with over 200 organizations across diverse industries throughout North America, from emerging startups to Fortune 500 corporations.
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Thought Leadership

Our team has published over 50 articles in leading HR and business publications and delivered keynote presentations at major industry conferences.

What Our Clients Say

Friendlinesseszx transformed how we approach leadership development. Their human-centered methodology helped us identify and address systemic issues that were limiting our leadership effectiveness. Within six months, we saw measurable improvements in team cohesion, decision-making clarity, and overall employee satisfaction.

Katherine Wilson

CFO, Prairie Financial Group

The organizational structure assessment and redesign facilitated by Friendlinesseszx was exactly what our growing company needed. They took the time to understand our business challenges and culture before recommending changes. The implementation was smooth, and the results have exceeded our expectations in terms of operational efficiency and employee engagement.

Marcus Fernandez

CEO, Innovate Technologies

Working with Friendlinesseszx on our talent development strategy has been transformative. Their team brought fresh perspectives and evidence-based approaches that helped us identify and nurture high-potential employees. The leadership coaching program they designed has become an essential part of our talent retention strategy, with participants consistently rating it as one of the most valuable professional development experiences.