About
About POISE Consulting
Growing a business or nonprofit brings people and operating decisions that need care, perspective and follow-through. Led by Emily Isaak, RPR, with strategy and operations support from Sean Polden, POISE helps Ontario owners, executive directors and boards get practical support without a full internal team.
Founder & HR Lead
Emily Isaak, RPR
Emily Isaak, RPR, leads POISE Consulting and brings 15 years of HR and people leadership. She is Executive Director of CompanionLink and has served as Executive Director of Baby's Breath. She led recruitment at Trillium Health Partners. At Toronto Humane Society, she managed volunteer, foster and HR programs.
Through POISE, Emily helps owners, executive directors and boards with HR, recruitment, leadership and organizational strategy, without needing a full HR department.
Strategy & Operations Consultant
Sean Polden
Sean Polden brings experience in business operations, corporate immigration, legal technology and nonprofit leadership. His background includes building Canalside Soda, partnering with HR teams on global mobility, founding A Better Niagara and serving as Treasurer of the Garden City Food Co-op. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management from Royal Roads University and a Law Clerk Diploma from Niagara College.
At POISE, Sean supports strategy and operations. He helps businesses and nonprofits translate their goals into practical plans, clearer workflows and useful technology. His experience in team building, grant writing and donor stewardship brings an understanding of the people, processes and resources organizations need to deliver.
Our approach
Start with the organization and the people in it. We clarify what needs attention, agree on the scope and who will do what, and build support around the way your workplace works. That can mean an ongoing HR partnership, advice on a particular issue, strategy and operations support, or a defined project with clear deliverables.
Practical HR support for Ontario businesses and nonprofits.