About Me

HR data should do more than tick a box. I help you make it matter.

I’m Emma Smith, founder of The Horsey HR Lady Ltd, and I specialise in making HR reporting more strategic, insightful, and easier to act on – for HR professionals, business leaders, and those managing people without a formal HR title.

Whether you’re buried in spreadsheets or stuck with a report no one reads, I can help you turn your people data into a tool for business decision-making.

From Admin to Analytics

My HR career started in administration – forms, files, and a lot of frustration. It was clear early on that we were collecting data but doing very little with it. Over time, I transitioned into HR reporting, then analytics, and finally into independent consultancy.

Along the way, I studied Business and Personnel after being offered an unconditional place on a Higher National Diploma (despite some dismal A-level results – 2 Ns and 2 Us). I later returned to university in 2002 while working full-time, completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management in 2004, and more recently, a Postgraduate Diploma in People Analytics.

I’m also a certified ISO 30414:2018 Human Capital Reporting Auditor, and I deliver international bootcamps in partnership with AIHR, working with professionals from around the world.

What I Do

I help you connect the dots between HR data and business impact – using whatever tools and systems you already have in place. This includes:

Making HR reports board-ready
Linking HR metrics to strategy
Helping teams spot patterns, risks, and opportunities in their people data
Supporting ISO 30414-aligned reporting and UK HR compliance
Using systems like Breathe HR and SenseHR as a base for data insights
Guiding HR professionals to redesign the way they report – in plain language, not charts for the sake of it

You can book a session to explore your current challenges, or download the upcoming Fix Your HR Reporting Toolkit to start making changes straight away.

Who I Work With

I work with:

HR professionals who want to raise their credibility with the board
Business owners or MDs managing HR alongside everything else
Operations or finance leaders tasked with understanding people data
HR tech providers and learning partners who need someone to “translate” data into action

No jargon. No shiny software sales. Just honest, practical support that fits your reality.

A Consultant Who Understands the Real World

You won’t find buzzwords or generic PowerPoints here.

What you will find is someone who:

Works with what you already use – whether it’s spreadsheets, HR software, or a messy shared drive
Bridges HR and data – I’m not a pure analyst, but I know how to work with them (and help you hold your own too)
Understands time pressure – I balance consultancy work with being a full-time carer and know what it means to work within limits
Brings lived experience – of building reporting processes for HR, supporting restructuring with metrics, and helping boards see what’s really going on

Why “The Horsey HR Lady”?

I’m based in Coventry, not a countryside idyll – but yes, I’m horsey through and through. I owned a retired racehorse for several years, and one day I’ll be welcoming another through the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre. The name reflects who I am and how I work – reliable, straight-talking, and a little unconventional.

Explore More

Ready to make your people data work harder?
📩 Email me at emmasmith@thehorseyhrlady.onmicrosoft.com
📅 Or book a conversation to see how I can help