Who I am

Mind the Gap is led by me, Paulina Stepanian, an experienced fractional people operations and talent consultant specializing in startups and scaleups. I personally design and deliver all fractional HR projects, and when needed, I collaborate with trusted independent consultants from my network to cover larger or specialized engagements.

Founded on the belief that great workplaces don't happen by accident, I blend strategic people operations insight with hands-on fractional support to build better hiring processes, clearer performance expectations, and more inclusive cultures for growing companies.

I work with founders, HR teams, and ambitious managers who want to scale without leaving people behind.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

My Work

Real world results from helping organizations close performance & skill gaps - fast. 

A woman with her hair tied up and wearing a patterned blouse is standing next to a whiteboard. She is pointing at a flowchart on the board while holding a marker. There are colorful sticky notes in the background, indicating a brainstorming or planning session.
A woman with her hair tied up and wearing a patterned blouse is standing next to a whiteboard. She is pointing at a flowchart on the board while holding a marker. There are colorful sticky notes in the background, indicating a brainstorming or planning session.
Fractional People & Talent Support

The Challenge
A fast-growing SaaS scaleup needed senior People leadership — but wasn’t ready for a full-time Head of People. They were juggling hiring demands, team friction, and messy processes, and it was slowing them down.

The Solution
I stepped in as a fractional People & Talent leader, providing:
✔ Strategic workforce planning and hiring alignment
✔ Implementation of scalable recruitment processes and tools
✓ Manager coaching to strengthen team culture during scaling
✔ On-demand expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire

The Impact
Cut average time-to-hire by 25% within 3 months
Increased hiring manager satisfaction scores by 40%
Established core people operations processes that supported future scaling
Gave the founders peace of mind: knowing People & Talent were under control

Bottom line: Senior-level expertise, only when you need it. Maximum flexibility, maximum impact.

woman reading book
woman reading book
A group of people is engaged in a meeting around a conference table, with laptops open in front of them. They appear attentive and focused, with a modern office interior and large windows in the background.
A group of people is engaged in a meeting around a conference table, with laptops open in front of them. They appear attentive and focused, with a modern office interior and large windows in the background.
person holding yellow and white pen writing on white paper
person holding yellow and white pen writing on white paper
Hiring Reset: Competency Mapping

The Challenge
A mid-sized fintech was stuck: no clear career paths, unclear promotion criteria, and hiring bottlenecks. Internal mobility was slowing, and top talent was frustrated.

The Solution
I built a custom competency matrix across roles, created a tailored interview guide aligned to company values, and ran hands-on manager workshops to roll it out smoothly and build buy-in.

The Impact
✔ Time-to-hire reduced by 12 days
✔ Internal mobility scores improved, with employees reporting a higher sense of fairness and clarity
✓ Competency framework now drives performance reviews and career progression

Bottom line: Sharper hiring processes. Happier teams. Sustainable scaling for growing organizations.

We had great people but zero structure — no career paths, unclear promotion criteria, frustrated talent. Mind the Gap built our competency frameworks and development paths from scratch. It completely transformed how our managers lead and how our team grows.
— Sofia R., VP People, Series B Fintech

★★★★★

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