Home | Hill Golnick

About Us

Hill Golnick Advisors is a talent advisory firm that specializes in partnering with investment firms and their portfolio companies across the deal cycle.

We serve as an extension of deal, portfolio operations, and executive teams to cut through complexity and build talent solutions that lead to outsized performance and value creation.

Our Differentiators

Track record of working with or for the most successful investment firms in the world

Deep understanding of the investment thesis and what that practically means for the talent strategy

Data-driven and action-oriented, using robust scientific methodology whilst leaving participants with a positive experience

Lean and nimble, with an ability to tailor our approach and move fast to meet each firm’s needs

Our Solutions

Click on each objective to learn more:

We meet our clients where they are, determining bespoke solutions at an individual, team, and organizational level, to achieve the following objectives.

1

Make talent-informed
investment decisions

2

Build Tier 1 teams who can drive transformational growth

3

Build firm-focused capability

and expertise

Meet Our Team

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Jill Hill

Dr. Jill Hill is a seasoned leadership strategist and executive coach with 25+ years of experience. She works globally at the senior-most levels of businesses to help clients drive positive, transformational change. Jill is a key partner to some of the world’s most successful alternative asset management firms, specializing in Private Equity. She collaborates closely with investors, boards, and CEOs, with a proven track record in solving complex talent and organizational challenges. Jill’s distinguished career includes being the Global Head of Advisory Solutions at Modern Executive Solutions, Head of People for Citadel’s Global Fixed Income and Global Credit businesses, Head of Private Equity at YSC Consulting, and Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. During her academic tenure, Jill pursued a robust research agenda focused on identifying and mitigating bias in traditional approaches to personality and cognitive ability assessment. Jill earned her BA in Psychology and MA in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University in Maryland, followed by a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Oklahoma. She completed her post-doctoral residency at Cornell University and is a licensed counseling psychologist in the State of New York. Beyond her professional endeavors, Jill shares her life with her wife and two dachshunds, splitting their time between Manhattan and the Hudson Valley. A passionate lover of the outdoors, Jill engages in activities like paddle boarding, gardening, and golf.

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Jen Golnick

Jen is a trusted partner to investment firms and their portfolio companies to diagnose talent challenges and identify bespoke solutions at an individual, team, and organizational level. With a deep understanding of the investment thesis, she specializes in codifying the required leadership capabilities to accelerate value creation, hiring and building effective teams, and supporting leaders’ development. Previously, Jen was Talent Lead for Point72 Private Investments, where she built the talent strategy for their inaugural private equity fund and led strategic talent initiatives in service of all investment strategies, including private equity, growth equity, early stage ventures, as well as internally. She started her career in consulting, first in Deloitte’s Human Capital practice then YSC’s Private Equity practice. Jen obtained her BA in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and her MA in Industrial / Organizational Psychology from Roosevelt University. She has an advanced certification in Hogan Assessments and completed intensive training through the College of Executive Coaching. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives in San Francisco with her partner and two furry canine children. While more of an indoor gal, she does her best to explore all that the Bay Area has to offer. Wine tasting outside counts, right?

Principal

Leslie Erickson

Leslie brings a rare vantage point to talent advisory: more than a decade as a private equity investor and board member before turning her focus to the people decisions that determine whether a thesis succeeds. Having evaluated deals, executed transactions, and sat on portfolio company boards herself, she partners with investors and management teams from inside their frame of reference, translating value-creation plans into the leadership moves required to deliver them. Leslie spent her investing career across the middle market and healthcare. As a Vice President at Cressey & Company, a leading healthcare-focused private equity firm, she evaluated and executed investments and served on portfolio company boards. Earlier, she worked on leveraged buyout and growth equity deals at The Edgewater Funds and Trinity Hunt Partners, leading platform and add-on acquisitions. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Credit Suisse, and later co-founded the Leadership, Talent & Organization practice at PwC. Leslie lives in Manhattan with her architect husband, their child, and mini goldendoodle. Outside of work, you'll often find her in a pottery studio or exploring the city's food scene.

Associate

Sarabeth Blakely

In her role as Associate, Sarabeth is a strategic partner to clients, bringing structure, clarity, and momentum to complex initiatives. With experience supporting private equity funds and their portfolio companies, she delivers actionable solutions that foster alignment, enable confident decision-making, and accelerate value creation. Her work is grounded in precision and purpose, ensuring every engagement drives meaningful, measurable outcomes. Prior to Hill Golnick Advisors, Sarabeth held client-facing roles at Ampersand Leadership Group and The Brand Guild, where she led high-impact projects, managed key client relationships, and supported business growth through thoughtful coordination and execution. She began her career at Dore Partnership, a boutique executive search firm, where she partnered with leading financial services clients to deliver top talent across the US, Europe, and Asia. Sarabeth earned a BS in Marketing at the University of Alabama and is certified in Hogan Assessments. She lives in New York City with her partner and spends her free time running in Central Park, planning her next trip, or tackling her New York City restaurant bucket list.

Operations Manager

Lien Nguyen

Lien is an Operations Manager with eight years of experience helping startups and growing businesses build scalable operational foundations. She brings structure and calm to fast-moving environments and has supported companies in in-house and consulting roles, focusing on operations and back-office systems that help teams execute with efficiency. Lien previously held various operational roles at Forward Search, Machinify, and Robert Walters. Lien has a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University. Based in San Diego, Lien is a hobby enthusiast who embraces being a beginner at everything and an aspiring DIY aficionado.

Executive Assistant

Jonathan Mahle

In his role as Executive Assistant, Jonathan is a trusted partner to Managing Partners, bringing structure, responsiveness, and follow-through to fast-moving environments. He helps keep priorities moving by managing logistics, coordinating across stakeholders, and creating the conditions for leaders and teams to operate at their best. Jonathan brings 16+ years of experience across executive support, operations, administration, and project coordination. He is known for his discretion, strong judgment, and ability to bring calm and clarity to complex, high-performance environments. He has experience supporting senior leaders in client-driven settings, including work connected to private equity and adjacent sectors, where pace, polish, and precision matter. Based in San Antonio, Jonathan enjoys travel, discovering new places, and finding smarter ways to make work run more smoothly.

Managing Partner, Private Investment Firm

"We love the way the team at Hill Golnick Advisors approaches talent, not as a role filling exercise but as a key pillar of their clients’ strategy. We are so happy to be partnering with them on our executive and leadership-related needs."

Contact

Reach out via email or form to discuss how we could potentially partner. We look forward to hearing from you.

info@hillgolnick.com