About The Practical HR Leader
We exist to equip HR professionals and leaders with practical, affordable tools to solve real workplace problems. Our mission is to deliver resources you can trust—templates, guides, and leadership support—that reflect integrity, professionalism, and evidence-based thinking. Our vision is to be the most trusted online source for practical HR tools and guidance worldwide.
About Lori Fambro
Welcome to The Practical HR Leader, where practical solutions meet strategic human resources leadership.
I'm Lori Fambro, MSHRM, MSIOP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, an executive human resources leader with more than two decades of experience helping organizations build stronger workplaces through effective leadership, sound HR practices, and strategic people solutions. Throughout my career, I have partnered with executives, managers, and employees across healthcare, local government, public education, and higher education to address complex workplace challenges with professionalism, integrity, and practical insight.
I created The Practical HR Leader because I saw a need for HR resources that professionals could immediately apply in the workplace. Too often, HR guidance is either overly academic or too generic to solve real organizational problems. My goal is to bridge that gap by providing practical, evidence-based tools, templates, guides, and training that save time, improve decision-making, and help organizations build stronger, more engaged workforces.
My professional experience spans virtually every area of human resources, including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, organizational development, HR compliance, workplace investigations, policy development, leadership coaching, HR technology implementation, and strategic workforce planning. I have led HR functions for organizations ranging from municipal governments and school districts to healthcare systems and universities, giving me a broad perspective on the unique challenges leaders face across different industries.
Education has always been central to my professional journey. I hold master's degrees in Human Resource Management and Industrial-Organizational Psychology, maintain both the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certifications, and am currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Resource Management. My commitment to lifelong learning allows me to combine current research with practical experience to develop resources that are both credible and immediately useful.
Whether you're a first-time HR professional, an experienced HR leader, a business owner, or a people manager, my mission is simple: to equip you with practical tools that increase confidence, strengthen compliance, improve employee experiences, and support better organizational outcomes.
Thank you for visiting The Practical HR Leader. I hope the resources you find here become trusted tools throughout your leadership journey.
Practical Solutions. Ethical Leadership. Better Workplaces.
Our Core Values
Integrity
We do the right thing—always.
Practical Solutions
Actionable tools you can apply today.
Professional Excellence
High standards in everything we deliver.
Continuous Learning
We keep improving and sharing knowledge.
Ethical Leadership
Lead with integrity and respect.
Evidence-Based Decisions
Use data and research to guide actions.
Get practical, trusted HR resources
Browse tools, templates, and guides to move work forward with confidence.
Build confident HR leadership
Leadership insights and frameworks grounded in ethics and strategy.
What Makes The Practical HR Leader Unique?
At The Practical HR Leader, we believe the best HR resources are the ones professionals can use immediately—not just read.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and day-to-day HR practice by providing practical, evidence-based resources developed through real leadership experience. Every guide, toolkit, template, and checklist is designed to help HR professionals, managers, and organizational leaders navigate workplace challenges with confidence.
What sets us apart is a combination of executive-level HR leadership experience, advanced education, and a commitment to creating resources that are both strategically sound and practical to implement.
Why Professionals Choose The Practical HR Leader
• Practical Solutions for Real Workplace Challenges
Our resources are designed to be used in real organizations. Whether you're conducting a workplace investigation, preparing for an employee coaching conversation, developing interview questions, or strengthening HR compliance, you'll find tools that are clear, actionable, and ready to adapt to your workplace.
• Broad Leadership Experience
Our guidance is informed by experience supporting organizations across healthcare, local government, public education, and higher education. This broad perspective helps us recognize that effective HR solutions often need to be adapted to different organizational environments.
• Evidence-Based Guidance
Professional experience is strengthened by continuous learning. Our resources integrate current research and recognized HR best practices to help readers make informed decisions rather than relying solely on opinion or trends.
• Resources That Save Time
HR professionals are expected to solve complex problems while balancing competing priorities. Our templates, checklists, and toolkits are designed to reduce administrative burden, improve consistency, and allow professionals to focus on strategic work.
• Professional Credibility
The Practical HR Leader was founded by Lori Fambro, MSHRM, MSIOP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, an experienced HR executive who is also pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Resource Management. This combination of leadership experience, advanced education, and professional certification reflects a commitment to excellence and lifelong learning.
