Brittany Hartley
Brittany Hartley is a nationally recognized executive advisor, founder, and CEO of J28, where she operates at the intersection of talent strategy, infrastructure, and leadership development. A former Fortune 500 executive who managed a $300 million revenue run rate, Brittany brings decades of experience guiding organizations from startup growth to enterprise scale. Known as a LinkedIn Top Voice, she has built a network of over 10,000 senior leaders and industry professionals, using those connections to help companies align talent decisions with long-term business strategy and performance.
Throughout her career, Brittany has developed a reputation for transforming hiring into a strategic driver of organizational success. Before founding J28, she served in executive leadership roles, including global sales and talent acquisition positions, where she led high-impact initiatives across multiple industries. She has consulted for major organizations, including Johnson & Johnson and Becton Dickinson, and has played a key role in placing over a thousand professionals in positions that have shaped their long-term careers. Her expertise spans environmental and infrastructure sectors, including solid waste, energy, and emerging regulatory challenges.
Brittany’s approach is deeply relationship-driven, grounded in the belief that talent strategy is business strategy. She is passionate about mentoring leaders, supporting workforce development, and helping organizations navigate evolving industry dynamics such as energy transition and talent shortages. Drawing on more than 40 years of professional experience—including an early career as a professional ballet dancer—she combines discipline, resilience, and strategic insight to empower both individuals and organizations to reach their full potential.
• Undergraduate degree in Business
• SWANA
• SHRM
• Several boards for recruiting and AI interactions in technologies
• Phoenix Children's Hospital
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the long-term relationships I’ve built over decades, a strong sense of discipline shaped by my background as a professional ballet dancer, and a deep commitment to mentoring and advocating for others. Leading my own executive search and consulting firm, after years of advising major organizations, has allowed me to combine experience, network, and purpose to help people and businesses grow.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room,” reminding me to continuously seek out environments that challenge and grow me.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Build strong relationships, seek out mentorship, pay it forward, and intentionally place yourself in environments that challenge you and help you grow.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The talent market remains a major challenge, with resumes often getting lost in large systems and AI rapidly reshaping hiring practices. This creates a significant opportunity for stronger candidate advocacy and more precise, high-quality talent matching.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family is incredibly important to me - I'm a mom and I love spending time with my family and friends. I love my animals and take in rescues. I was formerly a professional ballet dancer, and I think the discipline and flexibility I learned from that really helped me build my company. I still dance, and I love traveling and adventures. I'm a big believer in paying it forward and love working with younger people in the industry. I really want everything that me and my team touch to help people. After going through some health challenges, I made a commitment that everything I do is focused on really, really helping people. Watching the engineers I've placed grow from entry-level to executive vice presidents and CEOs, knowing that impacts their confidence and their family, just fills me with joy. I try to keep my employees always top of mind - that's where my investment usually goes.