Highland Valley Digital is a boutique executive placement and board advisory firm built for companies at the intersection of innovation, growth, and leadership evolution.

We specialize in placing fractional and full-time C-suite leaders, board directors, and strategic advisors into high-growth startups, mid-market scale-ups, and venture-backed companies.

We work quietly, quickly, and strategically, placing trusted operators and boardroom leaders who bring immediate impact.

We believe leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about traction and execution.

Our placements are high-impact professionals who:

Execute in ambiguity and scale with precision
Align founders, investors, and teams around the same mission
Operate with governance discipline and entrepreneurial velocity
Know how to get operational work done and still show up for the boardroom.

Whether we’re helping a founder hire their first President, placing a fractional CFO, or building out a governance-ready board, we work with clients who understand that the right leadership is the greatest accelerator.

Highland Valley Digital is powered by a close-knit team of entrepreneurial professionals who pair sharp execution with genuine, founder-level commitment.

Many are former founders, operators, or C-suite leaders themselves.
Some have even gone through Hazel’s executive coaching program to transition into fractional or advisory roles.
All are self-starters, visionaries, and strategic thinkers who understand what it takes to build, scale, and lead.

We're not a traditional recruiting agency. We're a team of builders supporting other builders — focused on speed, trust, and long-term fit.

When you work with Highland Valley, you’re backed by a core team that’s walked the founder journey — and knows how to match leadership with vision.

ABOUT HAZEL S. EVANS

Founder & CEO, Highland Valley Digital

Hazel S. Evans is a seasoned operator, trusted advisor, and active board member and board advisor, currently holding two corporate board seats and serving on two advisory boards.

With over 25 years of experience navigating corporate, startup, and boardroom dynamics, Hazel brings a unique, real-world understanding of what high-functioning leadership looks like in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.

Through Highland Valley Digital, Hazel leads with a philosophy that combines executional excellence, relational intelligence, and strategic insight. She works directly with CEOs, founders, and investors to ensure that every placement is more than a seat filled, it’s a game-changing decision made with confidence.

Hazel and her team coach senior corporate leaders looking to launch their business for the first time, or start their board career, helping them repackage their experience for high-impact independent work.

Finance & Business

FinTech
PropTech
InsureTech
Real Estate
Finance
Emerging Markets
FinTech
PropTech
InsureTech
Real Estate
Finance
Emerging Markets

Technology & Innovation

SaaS & Enterprise Tech
AI & Artificial Intelligence
Blockchain
AR/VR & Metaverse
Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention
EdTech (Education Technology)
Health Tech & MedTech

Consumer & Lifestyle

Consumer Goods & Services
Retail, Fashion, Beauty, Travel
Food & Beverage (including Wineries)
Home Goods & Furniture
Landscaping, Gardening, Outdoor Living
Education (non-EdTech, e.g., institutions or training providers)
Virtual Reality Training Programs
Transportation & Travel

What Sets us Apart

Elite Executive Network — we place leaders who aren’t looking, because they’re already delivering
Boardroom Insight — we advise and place board members based on governance experience, not just title
Operator-Led Search — we’ve sat in the seats we fill, and we know the stakes
Founder-Aligned Process — high-touch, high-trust, and deeply embedded in innovation culture
Entrepreneurial Team — every team member has walked the path of growth and reinvention

Bloomberg

"Companies who are looking for fractional executives tend to have three issues, they don't have the budget for a full time executive, they might have a gap in the work fore"

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CNBC

"A lot of executives get bogged down in administration tasks in meetings where they are not adding value. Fractional executives optimize your spend by not focusing on those areas - you only pay for the critical tasks that move the needle"

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Business Insider

"Recently, Highland Valley Digital has released a report on 'the Trend of Executive as a Service (EaaS)'. As 2024 unfolds, the leadership terrain is evolving significantly, primarily driven by the growing adoption of Executive as a Service (EaaS). Highland Valley Digital reports this trend as a crucial business turning point."

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Yahoo Finance

"Embracing EaaS is no longer an option but a necessity for those seeking to remain competitive in an era defined by rapid innovation and change."

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How to Launch a Successful Consulting Business in Retirement

Kimberly Lane

Join us now for a NEW episode of The Abundance Blueprint with Kimberly: How Fractional Executives Power Startup Growth with Highland Valley Digital’s CEO Hazel Evans.

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CNBC

In the latest episode of The Human Code podcast by Findustries LLC , I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hazel Evans, a trailblazer in the field of AI ethics. We dive deep into the critical importance of ethical AI practices and how they shape the future of technology.

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