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Advisor · Builder · Leader

Your business is growing. Your HR hasn't caught up yet. Let's fix that together.

I work with founders, CEOs, and leadership teams navigating the complexity of growth — bringing 15 years of experience building organisations, making hard decisions, and advising leaders who need a trusted partner, not a vendor.

Leader & Entrepreneur
2 Businesses Built & Exited
France · UK · Australia
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Why work with me
15+
Years in HR, operations & business building
2
Companies built and sold as a founder
FR·AU
Available in France and Australia
Clear Hiring Processes Team Structure Clarity AI Tools for HR Practical HR Support SME-Focused Consulting No-Fluff Advisory France & Australia Clear Hiring Processes Team Structure Clarity AI Tools for HR Practical HR Support SME-Focused Consulting No-Fluff Advisory France & Australia
15+
Years in HR, Operations & Business
2
Businesses Built & Sold as Founder
3
Ways to Work Together
FR · AU
Based in France, Active in Australia

“Most SME leaders don’t have a people problem. They have a clarity problem.”

When your team grows past 20, 30, or 50 people, things that used to work stop working. Roles blur. Hiring takes forever. Nobody agrees on who does what. I work directly with founders and HR managers to fix the basics — without the overhead of a big firm, without a six-month project, and without the jargon.

Does this sound familiar?

Your business is growing. The HR side is struggling to keep up.

You didn't build this business to spend your time firefighting HR problems. But here you are — chasing down job descriptions, fielding team complaints, or wondering why every hire takes three months. I work with founders and HR managers to fix these things properly, not just patch them.

  • Every hire feels like starting from scratch
  • Nobody's quite sure who is responsible for what
  • You hire someone and three months later it's not working
  • Your HR tools are a mess of spreadsheets and good intentions
  • You've heard AI can help with HR but have no idea where to start
What I actually help with

Fixing your hiring process

Writing job descriptions that attract the right people. Building a simple, repeatable process so every hire doesn't feel like starting over.

Clarifying roles & responsibilities

When everyone's doing everything and nobody owns anything, things break. I help you define who does what — and make sure it actually sticks.

Organising your team structure

You've added people but the org chart still makes no sense. I help you redesign your structure around how your business actually works today.

Building simple HR processes

Onboarding, performance conversations, basic HR policies — the things that should exist in every business but often don't. I help you put them in place without overcomplicating it.

Using AI in your HR & ops

Not hype, not theory. I show you which AI tools are actually useful for hiring, onboarding and HR admin — and help your team start using them in a week, not a year.

Three ways to work together

How I Work

No lengthy proposals. No big onboarding process. We start with a conversation, figure out what you need, and get to work. Simple as that.

01
2–3 Weeks

Quick Diagnostic

Not sure where to start? We spend 2–3 weeks looking at your current HR setup — hiring, structure, processes, tools — and I give you a clear picture of what's working, what isn't, and what to do first.

  • Review of hiring & onboarding
  • Roles & structure audit
  • Plain-language report
  • A short list of priorities to act on
02
Ongoing · Leadership Level

Fractional People & Leadership Advisor

You need senior-level thinking on your people and organisational challenges — without the cost of a full-time hire. I work embedded in your leadership, one to two days per week, operating at the level where strategy meets the reality of your people and structure.

  • Support on active hiring
  • Help with team & role clarity
  • Building HR basics from scratch
  • Sounding board for people decisions
  • Introduction to practical AI tools
03
Focused Project · Fixed Scope

One Project, Done Properly

You have one specific thing to fix — a broken hiring process, a team structure that makes no sense, or an HR policy overhaul. We scope it together, set a clear timeline, and I deliver it.

  • Full hiring process redesign
  • Org structure redesign
  • HR policies & documentation
  • AI tools setup for HR & ops
Who I work with

Built for founders and HR managers who are done winging it.

My clients are typically SMEs with 20 to 200 people — businesses that have grown quickly and now need to get their HR and people side properly organised. They don't need a big consulting firm. They need someone who gets it, and gets on with it.

SME founders (20–200 people)
HR managers without a big team
CEOs who handle HR themselves
Companies hiring for the first time
Teams going through rapid growth
Businesses confused by AI in HR
What they usually say

“I know we need to fix our HR. I just don't have the time — or the expertise — to know where to start.”

That's exactly why I exist. I bring 15 years of practical experience to your business — without the overhead, the jargon, or the six-month onboarding process of a big firm.

Souheila Merabti — Founder, ADK Partner
Who I Am

The person behind ADK Partner

I'm Souheila. I've spent 15 years leading, building and advising — across startups, SMEs and global organisations in France, the UK and Australia. I hold a CS degree and a Master in Business from NYU, and I've built and exited two businesses of my own.

I founded ADK Partner because leaders navigating growth and complexity deserve more than generic advice. They need a trusted partner who has experienced the reality behind those decisions — not just studied them.

15+
Years Experience
2
Companies Built & Sold
FR·UK·AU
International Career
LinkedIn
Ready when you are

“If your HR is holding your business back, let's fix it. It's usually simpler than you think.”

We start with a 30-minute call. No sales pitch. You tell me what's going on, I give you an honest view of how I can help — or whether someone else would serve you better.

How to Work With Me

Services

Three clear ways to get practical HR and people support — without the complexity, the jargon, or the cost of a big firm.

Pick the right fit

Three ways to work together.

Not sure which one is right for you? Start with a conversation and we'll figure it out together. Most clients begin with the Quick Diagnostic, then move to ongoing support. Others have one specific problem to fix and just want it done.

01
Quick Diagnostic
2–3 Weeks · Fixed Fee
Understand your system

A structured analysis of your hiring and workforce system.

This engagement identifies where your organisation is losing speed, clarity, or efficiency in how it builds teams — and delivers a clear action roadmap to address it.

Focus Areas
  • Hiring funnel performance
  • Recruitment bottlenecks
  • Leadership hiring quality
  • Organisational structure alignment
  • HR / Talent operating model
  • AI readiness in HR processes
Deliverables
  • Strategic diagnostic report
  • Priority action roadmap
  • Executive debrief session
02
Fractional People & Leadership Advisor
Ongoing · Leadership Level
Strategic advisory, embedded in your leadership

A senior advisor inside your business, without the full-time cost.

I work as a fractional leadership partner — embedded in your organisation one to two days per week, operating at the level where strategy meets the reality of your people and structure. I'm not extra capacity. I'm the person who thinks alongside you, challenges the right assumptions, and brings clarity to the decisions that matter most.

What I bring
  • Leadership-level thinking on people & org decisions
  • Hiring strategy — not just job specs
  • Org design and leadership team structuring
  • Navigating difficult people decisions with you
  • Building the foundations that let you stop firefighting
  • A senior thinking partner — available without full-time overhead
The structure
  • 1–2 days per week, minimum 3 months
  • In person or remote — France & Australia
  • Direct access — no account managers, no juniors
  • Monthly review and honest scope conversation
03
One Project, Done Properly
Fixed Scope · Clear Deadline
Know exactly what needs fixing?

One specific problem. Scoped, delivered, done.

You have a specific thing to fix — a broken hiring process, a team structure that makes no sense, or HR policies that don't exist yet. We agree on the scope, set a clear timeline, and I deliver it. No ambiguity, no scope creep.

Common projects
  • Hiring process redesign start to finish
  • Team structure redesign
  • HR policies and documentation set up
  • Onboarding process built from scratch
  • AI tools selected and set up for your team
What you get
  • Agreed scope and timeline from day one
  • Working deliverables you can use immediately
  • Handover and handoff support
How it starts

From first conversation to getting on with it.

No lengthy proposals. No procurement process. Just a straightforward conversation, a clear plan, and we get started.

1

30-min Call

You tell me what's going on. I listen, ask questions, and give you an honest view of how I can help — or whether someone else would serve you better.

2

Agree on What Matters

We work out what needs fixing first — hiring, structure, processes, or all three — and which way of working makes the most sense for your situation.

3

Clear Simple Proposal

I send a short, clear proposal — what I'll do, how long it takes, and what it costs. No jargon. No hidden scope. You say yes or ask questions.

4

We Get Started

Work begins quickly — usually within 1–2 weeks. I keep you updated throughout. No surprises, no disappearing, no waiting weeks for an update.

Most clients are up and running within 1–2 weeks of our first call.

No obligation — just a conversation
Not sure where to start? Let's talk it through.
A
Founder, ADK Partner

Souheila Merabti

Leader · Entrepreneur · Trusted Advisor to Business Leaders

I’ve built businesses, led organisations, navigated difficult decisions, and advised leaders across three countries. I bring that experience directly to the founders and CEOs I work with today.

CS Degree + NYU Master in Business Built & Exited 2 Businesses France 🇫🇷 · UK 🇬🇧 · Australia 🇦🇺
Souheila Merabti — Founder, ADK Partner
Souheila Merabti
Founder & Principal Advisor, ADK Partner
Connect on LinkedIn
Who I Am

I've led, built, and decided — not just advised.

I started with a Computer Science degree, then completed a Master's in Business at NYU — which gave me something rare: a hard foundation in how systems work, combined with a rigorous understanding of how businesses are built and run. That combination has shaped everything I've done since.

Over 15 years, I've worked across startups, fast-growing SMEs, and large global organisations — in France, the UK, and Australia. I've held senior leadership positions, sat in boardrooms, and been the person responsible for the hard calls: who to hire, who to let go, how to restructure a team in the middle of a growth crisis, and how to build something that holds together under pressure.

01
Academic Foundation
Computer Science degree + Master's in Business from NYU. A rare dual grounding: I understand how systems and organisations are designed, not just how they behave on the surface.
02
Senior Leadership Across Industries
From global corporates to high-growth SMEs — I've led HR and people functions at senior level, navigated restructures, built leadership teams, and made decisions that shaped entire organisations.
03
Entrepreneur & Business Builder
I built and exited two businesses. I know what it means to be the founder making decisions with incomplete information, under pressure, while also being responsible for every person on the team.
04
International Perspective
Built across France, the UK and Australia — three distinct business cultures. I understand how leadership, trust, and people dynamics shift across contexts, and I bring that nuance to every engagement.

I founded ADK Partner because I kept seeing the same gap: business leaders who needed a real thinking partner — someone who had been in the room when the hard decisions were made, not someone reading from a framework. That's what I bring. Not a methodology. Not a process. Experience.

15+
Years Leading & Building
2
Businesses Built & Exited
NYU
Master in Business
What I stand for

The principles behind everything I do.

These aren’t statements on a slide. They’re the things I’ve come to understand through 15 years of building, leading, and sometimes getting it wrong. They shape every conversation and every engagement.

01

Human & Real

Business is made of people. Every strategy, every decision, every breakdown — it all comes down to how people think, feel, and act under pressure. I stay grounded in that reality. I don’t advise from theory. I advise from what I’ve seen and lived.

02

Togetherness

The best work happens when we think together. I’m not here to hand over a document and leave. I work inside your reality — with your constraints, your team dynamics, your pressures — because that’s the only way advice becomes action.

03

Clarity in Complexity

Complexity is usually a symptom, not the problem. My job is to find the signal in the noise — to ask the questions that matter, identify what’s actually blocking progress, and make the path forward clear enough to act on. Not simplified. Clarified.

04

Fair & Honest Engagement

I charge fairly. I scope honestly. If I don’t think I’m the right person for what you need, I’ll tell you. Good advisory relationships are built on trust, not on billing hours. I’d rather work with fewer clients and do it properly.

05

Experience-Led

Everything I recommend, I’ve tested in the real world. I’ve made the decisions, managed the consequences, and adjusted when things didn’t go as planned. That background — building businesses, leading teams, navigating real crises — is the foundation of every piece of advice I give. Not a model. Not a trend. What I know works.

What I'm Good At

The three things I focus on.

Most HR problems in growing businesses come back to one of these three areas — or all three at once.

01

Hiring & Recruitment

Building a clear, repeatable hiring process — from writing job descriptions that attract the right people to running interviews that actually tell you something useful.

02

Team Structure & Org Design

Helping you work out who does what, who reports to whom, and how your team should be organised as the business changes. Fewer overlaps, clearer accountability, less confusion.

03

HR Processes & AI Tools

Building the HR basics that every business needs but many never get around to — onboarding, performance conversations, clear policies. And showing you which AI tools actually save time in HR, without the hype.

Why I do this

“I’ve sat on both sides of the table. I know what it costs to get this wrong — and I know what it takes to get it right.”

That background — building businesses, leading organisations, navigating difficult decisions across three countries — shapes every conversation I have with the leaders I work with. It’s not theory. It’s what I’ve lived.

Let's Talk

Get in Touch

Whether you have a specific problem to fix or just want to talk through what's going on in your business — the first conversation is always free and there's no obligation.

The simplest way to get started
Start with a conversation — no obligation, no pitch.
Send a message

Prefer to write?

All enquiries handled with professional discretion.

Reach Me Directly

I reply to all messages personally, usually within one business day.

Email
smerabti@adkpartner.com
France
+33 7 43 51 08 99
Australia
+61 420 582 652
Everything stays private

What you share stays between us. I treat every conversation with discretion — whether you're exploring options or dealing with something sensitive in your business.

What I Stand For

My Values

Not a brand exercise. These are the things I've come to understand through 15 years of building, leading, and sometimes getting it wrong.

The principles behind everything I do

Grounded in experience. Not a slide deck.

I've sat on both sides of the table — as a founder making hard calls with limited information, and as the advisor helping leaders navigate what comes next. These five values aren't aspirational. They're how I've learned to do this work well.

01

Human & Real

Business is made of people. Every strategy, every decision, every breakdown — it all comes down to how people think, feel, and act under pressure. I stay grounded in that reality. I don't advise from theory. I advise from what I've seen and lived.

In practice: I will never give you a recommendation that looks good on paper but ignores the people reality behind it.

02

Togetherness

The best work happens when we think together. I'm not here to hand over a document and leave. I work inside your reality — with your constraints, your team dynamics, your pressures — because that's the only way advice becomes action.

In practice: I show up as a thinking partner, not a consultant. We figure it out together.

03

Clarity in Complexity

Complexity is usually a symptom, not the problem. My job is to find the signal in the noise — to ask the questions that matter, identify what's actually blocking progress, and make the path forward clear enough to act on. Not simplified. Clarified.

In practice: after every conversation, you'll know exactly what needs to happen next — and why.

04

Fair & Honest Engagement

I charge fairly. I scope honestly. If I don't think I'm the right person for what you need, I'll tell you. Good advisory relationships are built on trust, not on billing hours. I'd rather work with fewer clients and do it properly.

In practice: no inflated scopes, no lock-in, no hidden agenda. You know exactly what you're getting and what it costs.

05

Experience-Led

Everything I recommend, I've tested in the real world. I've made the decisions, managed the consequences, and adjusted when things didn't go as planned. That background — building businesses, leading teams, navigating real crises — is the foundation of every piece of advice I give. Not a model. Not a trend. What I know works.

In practice: my CS degree and NYU Master in Business gave me the frameworks. Building and exiting two businesses taught me what frameworks miss. You get both.

How this shapes my work

Values without behaviour are just words.

Here's what these values look like when you work with me day to day.

I say what I think

You'll always get my honest read — even when it's not what you were hoping to hear. Comfortable half-truths don't help anyone move forward.

I respect your time

No endless discovery phases, no 60-page decks to justify the engagement. I get to the point because you have a business to run.

I keep it confidential

What you share stays between us. Full stop. Trust is the foundation of this kind of work — and I take it seriously.

Ready to work together?

“The leaders I work best with aren’t looking for a vendor. They’re looking for someone to think alongside them.”

If these values resonate — if you want an advisor who's direct, experienced, and genuinely invested in your success — let's start with a conversation.

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Last updated: April 2025

1. Who We Are

ADK Partner — Workforce & Talent Transformation Advisory. Contact: smerabti@adkpartner.com | France: +33 7 43 51 08 99 | Australia: +61 420 582 652.

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We may collect: name, email, phone number, job title, organisation name, and enquiry content submitted via our contact form or booking system.

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Legal

Terms of Use

Last updated: April 2025

1. Acceptance

By accessing the ADK Partner website, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use.

2. No Advisory Relationship

Visiting this website does not create a professional or advisory relationship. A formal engagement requires a signed agreement.

3. Intellectual Property

All content is the intellectual property of ADK Partner. Reproduction requires prior written consent.

4. Governing Law

Applicable law in France and Australia. Contact: smerabti@adkpartner.com

Schedule a Call

30 minutes — no pitch, no obligation, just a real conversation.

What to expect
  • Free 30-min call, no obligation
  • Google Meet or Zoom
  • English or French
  • You talk, I listen — then give you an honest view
Or reach out directly
smerabti@adkpartner.com +33 7 43 51 08 99 (FR) +61 420 582 652 (AU)