Hiring shouldn’t be expensive, reactive, or out of reach.
Our team blends the depth of a seasoned search firm with the mindset of an embedded partner. Having worked together for years, we bring mutual trust, complementary strengths, and a shared playbook. That foundation allows us to move quickly and operate as a cohesive team—so you’re not just hiring a recruiter, but gaining trusted partners who lead with clarity.
Clients rely on us when the stakes are high. We’ve filled complex roles under pressure, supported rapid growth, and helped leaders close candidates they didn’t think they could. Our approach is grounded, strategic, and shaped by deep experience in talent acquisition, HR strategy & operations and growth strategy.
Whether you’re building from the ground up or entering your next phase of growth, we help you hire intentionally—because great teams don’t just happen.
Members of our team
Founded by Julia Baun and Tony Giberti, The LaunchWell Group is built on 40+ years of combined leadership experience across industries and stages. Today, we support early-stage and growth-focused companies through fractional talent acquisition and HR services.
Julia Baun
Co-Founder │ Talent Strategy
Julia leads talent strategy at LaunchWell, where she partners with mission-driven and growth-stage companies to design inclusive, scalable hiring systems that support sustainable growth. Drawing on a career spanning health tech, global development, consulting, and government services, she brings a unique ability to translate complexity into clear, actionable talent strategies. A former U.S. Army officer, Julia is known for her calm leadership and thoughtful approach to building teams that are both high-performing and values-aligned.
Clients trust her for her strategic clarity, collaborative mindset, and commitment to making hiring feel purposeful and scalable. She lives in North Carolina with her family and is a Pure Barre enthusiast who loves gardening, traveling, and finding quiet moments to read.
Tony Giberti
Co-Founder │ Growth & Operations
Tony leads operations and client growth at LaunchWell, helping companies scale with the right systems, structure, and long-term vision. With a background in corporate strategy, startup leadership, and military service, he works with founders and executive teams to turn momentum into enduring growth. As a former Chief Operating Officer at a high-growth Health tech company, Tony has led cross-functional teams across product, operations, and client success.
He’s known for his clarity, pragmatism, and ability to bring structure and momentum to fast-moving environments. Tony lives in North Carolina with his family, is an avid golfer, and takes lawn care very seriously.
Adam Berger
Principal │ Talent Partnerships
Adam plays a key role in leading embedded and executive searches at LaunchWell, supporting hiring across technical, program, and leadership roles in complex and fast-paced environments. A seasoned recruiting leader known for delivering high-impact talent solutions, he has successfully scaled teams for high-growth startups, supported multi-billion-dollar federal programs, and led urgent hiring efforts where precision and speed were critical. His cross-sector experience gives him the ability to quickly diagnose challenges, adapt to unique organizational needs, and build trust across stakeholders.
Clients value his sharp instincts, steady presence, and ability to act as a true extension of their team. He lives in Northern Utah, enjoys being in nature with his sons, and is currently locked in a competitive family gardening rivalry.
Sarah Chomette
Principal │ Talent Partnerships
Sarah leads embedded hiring engagements at LaunchWell with a focus on adaptability, process excellence, and collaborative partnership. Known for her calm and positive presence, she thrives in fast-moving environments, helping clients break into new markets, respond to urgent hiring needs, and build recruiting systems from the ground up. Her experience spans international development, higher education, and mission-driven organizations, where she has supported high-growth programs and new business efforts alike.
Clients value her reliability, upbeat approach, and deep commitment to helping teams grow with clarity and care. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, is an avid birder, and always has at least three books in progress.
Karen Key
Principal │ People Strategy
Karen leads transformative HR initiatives at LaunchWell, crafting inclusive, forward-thinking people strategies that help organizations thrive in dynamic markets. As a former Chief Human Resources Officer with experience across multinational corporations, startups, and consulting roles, she brings a rare ability to translate complex human capital challenges into clear, actionable plans that drive performance and sustainable growth. Her expertise spans both U.S. and international HR initiatives.
Clients value her calm, strategic presence and deep commitment to building environments where people feel valued, motivated, and empowered. Known for her collaborative mindset and ability to unify diverse perspectives, Karen is a trusted advisor to executive teams focused on creating resilient, high-performing cultures. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and enjoys running, traveling, and cultivating her impressive collection of houseplants.
Sonja Grunlan
Principal │ People Strategy
Sonja partners with organizations to bring people strategies to life. Whether building HR functions from the ground up or elevating what already exists, she blends top-down vision with bottom-up insight to keep people and businesses aligned, engaged, and ready for tomorrow’s success.
Clients rely on Sonja as a trusted partner who collaborates seamlessly across cross-functional teams to design and implement strategic actions that strengthen organizational performance and drive business results. Known for bringing calm to chaos, Sonja quickly assesses challenges, identifies solutions, and leads key initiatives that motivate and empower employees—ultimately delivering the outcomes companies depend on.
Sonja lives in Scottsdale with her husband. You will often find her hiking throughout Arizona or relaxing with a good book while Bobcats and Javelinas roam in the backyard.
Tyler Barrett
Principal │ People & HR Partnerships
Tyler works closely with leadership teams as an embedded HR partner, supporting day-to-day operations and helping navigate employee relations, performance, and core HR processes. He brings a hands-on, execution-focused approach and has experience across the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, benefits, HR systems implementation, and employee compliance. Tyler is particularly effective in complex and fast-moving environments, where he helps teams bring structure, improve consistency, and operate more effectively.
Known for his reliability and clear communication style, Tyler is a steady, trusted partner who integrates quickly and brings clarity to complex people challenges. He lives in Western North Carolina with his family and enjoys hobby farming in his free time.
Nidia Barrera
Principal │ People & Talent (Latin America & Caribbean)
Nidia Barrera is an HR and talent leader with deep experience supporting organizations across Latin America and the Caribbean. At LaunchWell, she partners with companies expanding into new markets to lead talent acquisition efforts, strengthen onboarding and retention, and build scalable HR operations that support long-term growth. With a background spanning regional HR leadership, operations, and cross-cultural team support, Nidia brings both strategic insight and practical execution to complex environments.
Clients value Nidia for her collaborative approach, operational expertise, and ability to support people and teams across complex, multi-country environments. Prior to LaunchWell, she led HR and operations across seven countries at RTI International and managed integrated HR functions at IntraHealth International. Based in Guatemala City, Nidia enjoys swimming, walking, and spending weekends with family and friends.