If your people aren’t thriving, your business isn’t either.
And no amount of growth can outpace broken leadership systems.
WHY PEPs EXISTS
Across industries, organizations struggle not because of weak strategies, but because of broken people systems.
Employees make up the majority of every organization, yet their voices, insights, and lived experiences are often ignored. When leaders fail to listen, fail to respond, and fail to act on employee feedback, they don’t just damage morale—they lose innovation, efficiency, and revenue.
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PEPs exists to close that gap.
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We help organizations solve business problems by solving people problems—turning engagement into execution and culture into a competitive advantage.
Our Mission
To build an inclusive and profitable industry that reflects underserved and underrepresented communities.
Our Vision
A people-first focus delivering tailor-made solutions to attract, hire, develop, and retain top talent within the communities we serve.
Our Core Values
Fierce · Faithful · Fruitful · Fit · Fun
ABOUT PEOPLE EQUALS PROFITS
Founder
Lanett Austin Kesse
PEPs was founded by Lanett Austin Kesse, a seasoned HR executive and people strategist with deep experience across Fortune 500 companies, startups, and high-growth organizations.
Lanett began her career in a Fortune 500 company, where she discovered her passion for employee engagement, leadership development, talent management, and diversity. Early on, she recognized how access to corporate opportunities, often including six figure salaries, bonuses, and stock options could change lives and create generational wealth, particularly for talent from HBCUs and underrepresented communities.
From corporate America, Lanett brought her expertise into startups across sales, manufacturing, and cannabis, helping scale an organization from employee number three through IPO. Over five years, the company grew to more than 6,300 employees across 23 U.S. states and three European countries, where she led HR, talent management, DEI, and employee relations.
Through that journey, one truth became undeniable: When organizations put people first, revenue follows.
Lanett also experienced the cost of leaders who failed to value people; where bias replaced performance, high performers became threats, and HR was treated as an afterthought. After being unjustly let go early in her career, she turned that experience into purpose, committing her work to building healthier, more equitable, and more profitable organizations.
That commitment became People Equals Profits.
What We Do
PEPs partners with organizations, people leaders, and individuals to:​
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Build people-first cultures that drive results
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Strengthen leadership and accountability
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Translate employee feedback into action
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Align people strategy directly with business outcome
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Support individuals navigating growth, transition, and leadership
We believe HR is not a “nice to have.”
It is a core business function and when done well, it fuels growth.
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
How We Partner at PEPs
At People Equals Profits (PEPs), we believe there is no "one size fits all" solution. Every organization is different, which is why our engagements are designed to meet leaders where they are while driving meaningful, people-first results.
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Explore our engagement options below to determine the best fit for your organization.
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PEPs Strategic Partnership
Ongoing Advisory & Execution Support
Our flagship engagement for leaders seeking sustained impact through people-first strategy.
The PEPs Strategic Partnership provides ongoing advisory, leadership support, and execution guidance to help organizations align people, culture, and performance over time.
This is for you if:
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You want consistent strategic partnership and accountability
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You’re navigating leadership, culture, or growth challenges
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You’re committed to long-term, sustainable results
This is not for you if:
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You’re looking for a one-time fix
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You’re not ready to invest in people-first leadership
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You want purely transactional support
PEPs Impact Sprint
2
Focused, High-Impact Project Engagement
A short-term, results-driven engagement designed to address a specific challenge or accelerate a priority initiative.
The PEPs Impact Sprint delivers clarity, momentum, and actionable outcomes within a defined timeframe.
This is for you if:
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You need immediate clarity or direction
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You’re launching, resetting, or scaling a key initiative
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You want focused support with clear deliverables
This is not for you if:
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You’re looking for ongoing advisory support
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You want broad, undefined scope
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You’re not prepared to move quickly
3
PEPs Performance Partnership
Commission-Based, Outcome-Aligned Engagement
An outcomes-driven partnership where compensation is tied directly to results.
This model aligns incentives by compensating PEPs based on performance outcomes such as enrollments or placements.
This is for you if:
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You want shared accountability and aligned incentives
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You’re focused on measurable outcomes (e.g., enrollment growth)
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You value performance-based partnerships
This is not for you if:
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You’re seeking fixed-fee consulting
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You’re unable to track outcomes transparently
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You’re not ready for shared accountability
PEPs Bespoke Advisory
4
À La Carte & Customized Support
Flexible, tailored advisory support designed to meet your unique needs.
PEPs Bespoke Advisory offers customized services for leaders seeking targeted guidance without committing to a full engagement.
This is for you if:
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You need executive or leadership coaching
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You’re seeking strategic insight or facilitation
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You want customized, short-term support
This is not for you if:
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You’re looking for ongoing execution support
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You want a pre-packaged solution
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You’re unsure of your goals
