A New Chapter for The Human Collaborative: Welcoming Sean as a Managing Partner
At The Human Collaborative, our purpose has always been clear: to bring people together – clients, partners, technology and talent – to create a more connected, confident and capable world of work. Today, we’re thrilled to announce a new chapter in that mission as Sean Garbett joins us as Managing Partner.
Sean and our Founder Sue Howse have collaborated closely throughout their careers, sometimes working side by side, other times partnering from across the market. Their shared values, complementary experience and trusted relationship have shaped a dynamic partnership that has repeatedly delivered impact for clients. Now, bringing that collaboration under one roof creates a capability and partnership that is truly formidable.
Why Sean? Why now?
Sean has spent the 25 years’ operating at the intersection of business leadership, finance, procurement, HR, and technology, leading global organisations, scaling complex businesses, accelerating unicorn growth and supporting thousands of customers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and the Americas.
His earlier career spanned Ernst & Young, ManpowerGroup and in more recent years at SAP Fieldglass, where he spent nearly a decade, including five years as Global General Manager. This background gives him a rare blend of operational, consulting and technology expertise across both HR and Procurement.
His focus is simple: helping organisations unlock the strategic value of their workforce to drive agility, digital transformation and sustainable growth. Sean’s approach tothe workforce is founded on two fundamental principles: the dignity of work and workforce integrity. “The ultimate workforce is a value-adding ecosystem that whengoverned and harnessed effectively becomes a source of competitive advantage to executing against strategy”.
A partnership built on shared belief
Sue brings more than 25 years’ experience across the full talent lifecycle – talent strategy, talent management, talent acquisition, workforce planning, contingent workforce operating models, employer branding and the technology ecosystem. Her ability to connect business priorities with people strategy, and to translate complexity into clear, actionable solutions, makes her a trusted advisor to executive teams across sectors.
Together, Sue and Sean share a commitment to closing the gap between intention and execution. Their combined experience across business strategy, workforce operating models and technology strengthens our ability to help organisations build workforce ecosystems that empower people, strengthen culture, embrace technologyand deliver measurable business outcomes.
What this means for clients
This partnership allows us to continue expanding our advisory capabilities across:
- Workforce Strategy and Business Strategy Alignment
- Enterprise Talent and Workforce Planning
- Contingent Workforce Strategy and Governance
- Workforce Technology Ecosystem Design and Deployment, Assessments, Selection and Optimisation
And importantly, it strengthens how we support clients to build future-ready, strategically aligned, technology-enabled workforce ecosystems.
Looking ahead
The Human Collaborative was created to challenge the traditional consulting model, bringing together the right expertise at exactly the right time. Welcoming Sean as Managing Partner deepens our capability, accelerates our impact and amplifies our ability to help organisations “outpace workforce evolution.”
We’re excited for what’s ahead.
