Crystal Y. Benton | People & Culture Leader
Unlocking growth by designing people strategies that fuel culture, leadership, and measurable business results.
Proven Impact
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+16% engagement lift in under 12 months
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$11M tuition assistance & career pathways program designed and launched
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5,000+ employees impacted across U.S., APAC, and EMEA
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Double-digit retention improvements in high-turnover functions
Crystal Benton HR
My mission: To shape future-ready organizations where people thrive, leaders grow, and business performance accelerates.
I’m a strategic HR executive with a proven record of shaping high-performing, inclusive, and future-ready organizations. My expertise spans employee engagement, enterprise recognition, leadership development, and global HR strategy. I’ve partnered with CEOs, CHROs, and executive teams to align people strategy with business priorities — from cultural turnarounds in tech to building scalable leadership pipelines in healthcare and gaming.
I’ve led large teams, supported workforces of 1,500+, and launched enterprise-wide initiatives that delivered measurable outcomes: reducing attrition, lifting engagement scores by 12+ points, and creating internal career pipelines that saved millions in external recruiting costs.
I believe HR leaders must balance strategy with humanity. My leadership philosophy is rooted in authenticity, transformation, and results — ensuring people and businesses thrive together.
Outside of work, I channel creativity through writing, entrepreneurial ventures, and mentoring the next generation of HR leaders — bringing the same passion for growth and impact that fuels my career.
Core Areas of Expertise
Executive Coaching
Shaping executives into enterprise leaders
I partner with executives and senior leaders to sharpen decision-making, communication, and organizational influence. My coaching blends tactical leadership skills with strategic foresight, ensuring leaders not only manage effectively but also inspire trust, drive transformation, and deliver measurable business outcomes.
Leadership Development
Building leadership pipelines that scale
I design leadership development frameworks that prepare organizations for the future. From competency modeling to experiential learning and executive immersion, my programs strengthen leadership capability at every level—supporting succession planning, accelerating readiness, and embedding long-term cultural resilience.
Employee Engagement
Creating high-performance, people-first cultures
I develop enterprise-wide engagement strategies that go beyond surveys. By addressing change fatigue, burnout, and recognition gaps, I help organizations build cultures where employees feel valued, connected, and motivated. The result: measurable improvements in retention, discretionary effort, and sustained performance.
AI for HR Strategy
Harnessing innovation for workforce transformation
I integrate AI-driven insights into HR strategy to reimagine workforce planning, talent management, and leadership decision-making. By combining cutting-edge technology with people-centered design, I deliver smarter, data-informed strategies that improve efficiency while maintaining humanity at the core.
Global HR Partnership
Aligning people strategy with business growth
I collaborate with C-suite executives across industries and geographies to translate business goals into actionable people strategies. My work emphasizes organizational agility, cultural alignment, and scalable solutions that sustain growth across global, hybrid, and distributed workforces.
Talent Development
Building future-ready workforces
I create programs that attract, grow, and retain top talent—ranging from early career pipelines to high-potential leadership accelerators. My approach ensures talent strategies are inclusive, future-focused, and aligned with long-term business goals, enabling organizations to thrive in competitive markets.
Case Studies
Explore my case studies highlighting impactful HR and People initiatives. Gain insights into how I have driven engagement, designed leadership development, and built recognition programs for organizations across diverse industries.
Designed and implemented a scalable career framework for 600+ technology employees, reducing retention risk and building long-term growth pathways.
Created and launched an $11M scholarship program that streamlined fund distribution, increased retention, and opened equitable growth opportunities for frontline employees.
Led the design and rollout of a recognition platform for 5,000+ employees, embedding values-based recognition into culture and boosting engagement scores.
Reversed declining engagement by launching recognition initiatives, reviving hackathons, and introducing leadership programs, resulting in a +12 point engagement lift.
Developed the company’s first early career program, building a talent pipeline that filled 30% of open junior roles and accelerated leadership exposure for new talent.
Stabilized a high-risk engineering team through leadership coaching, retention strategies, and change management, creating a replicable playbook for complex HR challenges.
Recognition & Thought Leadership
Through global experience across industries — from healthcare and fashion to technology and gaming — I have demonstrated a unique ability to bridge strategy with humanity. I have been trusted to lead cultural transformation, shape leadership pipelines, and deliver high-impact programs recognized at the enterprise level.
My recognition spans formal accolades such as the Ignite Award and high-profile features such as inclusion in the Call of Duty franchise credits, as well as heartfelt testimonials from executives who consistently describe my as a mentor, culture-builder, and strategic partner. Together, these highlights underscore my reputation as a leader who not only delivers business results, but also elevates the people and communities she serves.
Trusted by Executives & Partners to Drive Culture & Results
Trusted by Executives and Business Partners to Drive Culture & Results
