Meet Marilyn Charlton
Marilyn is a fractional Chief Human Resources Officer who steps in when growth has outpaced structure. With 25+ years of senior HR leadership in high-growth and founder-led companies, she specializes in cleaning up the quiet catastrophes that sit inside people, compliance, and culture.
Marilyn works with fractional CFOs, small and growing SaaS companies, and multi-entity operators to build HR systems that are legally sound, operationally sharp, and simple enough for internal teams to run. Her focus: 1099/W-2 classification, multi-state and multi-country compliance, recruiting and onboarding workflows, career pathing, and the people policies that protect cash flow, not just vibes.
Known for her calm, direct style, Marilyn partners closely with CEOs, COOs, CFOs, and founders who want an adult in the room without adding another full-time executive to payroll. She designs short, defined HR projects that reduce regulatory risk, stabilize teams, and give leadership clear visibility into what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change.
Now based in Lisbon, Washington DC, and working globally, Marilyn brings a practical, no-drama approach to HR: protect the business, respect the humans, and make compliance as uneventful and boring as possible.
When Marilyn isn't working, she's traveling, writing, or walking her dog, Liam.
