Vessela Krissel - Founder

Q: Where is Vessela based?

Vessela is based in Berlin, Germany and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Vessela speak?

Vessela speaks the following languages: English (Advanced), Bulgarian (Intermediate), German (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Vessela have?

Vessela has at least 20 years of experience. During this time, Vessela has worked in at least 10 different roles and for 10 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 10 months . Note that Vessela may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Vessela's latest experience?

Vessela's most recent position is People & Growth Leader | Interim HR Executive | Aligning GTM Strategy, Leadership & Team Performance at Mindful Concepts .

Q: What companies has Vessela worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Vessela has worked for Mindful Concepts , think-cell Software GmbH , Novanta Inc. , Femme Palette , and Workplace Accelerator .

Q: Which industries is Vessela most experienced in?

Vessela is most experienced in industries like Professional Services , Information Technology , and Insurance . Vessela also has some experience in Education , Metals and Mining , and Advertising .

Q: Which business areas is Vessela most experienced in?

Vessela is most experienced in business areas like Human Resources , Strategy , and Marketing .

Q: Which industries has Vessela worked in recently?

Vessela has recently worked in industries like Professional Services , Insurance , and Education .

Q: Which business areas has Vessela worked in recently?

Vessela has recently worked in business areas like Human Resources , Marketing , and Strategy .

Recommended expert

Berlin, Germany

Experience

Jan 2025 - Present

1 year 3 months

Germany

People & Growth Leader | Interim HR Executive | Aligning GTM Strategy, Leadership & Team Performance

Mindful Concepts

I partner with founders and leadership teams to align people, performance, and go-to-market strategy, helping organisations scale with strong teams and confident leaders.

𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:

Interim / Fractional HR Leadership
GTM Team Restructuring & Alignment
Executive & Leadership Coaching
Leadership & Culture Programs

I am also the founder and host of 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐇𝐄𝐑®, a platform connecting ambitious women to grow, lead, and transform together.

Apr 2023 - Oct 2024

1 year 7 months

VP People and Organization

think-cell Software GmbH

Key member of the executive team, driving the people agenda to align with business goals
Led company-wide HR transformation, shaping a high-performance culture and fostering engagement (from Japan to USA – 4 locations)
Oversaw all HR areas, including talent strategy and leadership development
Developed HR policies and governance frameworks to support the business

Nov 2022 - Mar 2023

5 months

Director HR MIS

Novanta Inc.

Responsible for the HR function of MIS (400 people, across Germany, Czech Republic and USA)
Led the people function, implementing strategic HR initiatives
Part of the regional executive team

Apr 2022 - Present

4 years

Germany

Coach and Mentor

Femme Palette

Provide coaching and mentoring to women stepping into new careers or from underrepresented backgrounds

Aug 2021 - Jan 2023

1 year 6 months

Start-Up Mentor

Workplace Accelerator

Mentor start-up founders on the people and organisation topics of their organisations

Aug 2018 - Nov 2022

4 years 4 months

Global Head of P&O

simplesurance GmbH

Part of the executive team, driving people strategy in alignment with business goals
Led and scaled the people function, implementing strategic HR initiatives across all locations (Japan, India, Portugal, UK and Germany)
Built and nurtured a strong company culture, fostering inclusivity, collaboration and high performance

Jul 2015 - Sep 2017

2 years 3 months

Global Director P&O

AppLift GmbH

Executive management
Global team leadership
Coaching and mentoring
Company culture creation
P&O strategy development
Stakeholder management
Financial and budget planning

Dec 2012 - Jun 2015

2 years 7 months

Global Head of P&O

Ontotext Ltd.

Responsible for the entire P&O function (from China to USA – 7 locations)
Part of the executive team
Crisis management
Workforce restructuring

Aug 2009 - Dec 2012

3 years 5 months

Bulgaria

Head of TA

Aurubis Ltd.

Responsible for the HR hiring function in the Bulgarian plant (1000 people)
Part of the regional executive team

Feb 2006 - Aug 2009

3 years 7 months

CHRO

HRCR BG

Responsible for the entire P&O function
Business development
Part of the executive team

Jun 2005 - Feb 2006

9 months

HR Manager

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Professional Services, Information Technology, Insurance, Education, Metals and Mining, and Advertising.

Professional Services

Information Technology

Insurance

Education

Metals and Mining

Advertising

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Human Resources, Strategy, and Marketing.

Human Resources

Strategy

Marketing

Summary

I am a People & Growth Leader with 20 years of international experience at the intersection of HR, leadership, and go-to-market strategy.

As an Interim HR Executive and certified coach, I partner with founders and leadership teams to align people strategy with commercial ambition. I strengthen GTM organisations, restructure and scale teams, and coach leaders to perform with clarity, accountability, and impact.

I have built award-winning HR functions and led transformation journeys from the inside, not just as an advisor, but as an executive responsible for results. This allows me to bridge strategy and execution, culture and performance, growth and sustainability.

My focus is simple: build strong teams, empower capable leaders, and create structures that enable businesses to scale with confidence.

Skills

Executive Management
Global Team Leadership
Coaching And Mentoring
Company Culture Creation
P&o Strategy Development
Stakeholder Management
Financial And Budget Planning
Crisis Management
Workforce Restructuring

Languages

English

Advanced

Bulgarian

Intermediate

German

Intermediate

Education

Oct 2006 - Jun 2008

M.A. HR Management · HR Management

Oct 2001 - Jun 2005

B. Sc. Psychology · Psychology

Certifications & licenses

Certified Coach

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 11

Experience in Professional Services 8 y

Avg length 2 y 3 m

Longest experience 4 y 3 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 2 (Germany, Bulgaria)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles People & Growth Leader | Interim HR Executive | Aligning GTM Strategy, Leadership & Team Performance, VP People and Organization, Director HR MIS

Main industries Professional Services, Information Technology, Insurance

Main business areas Human Resources, Strategy, Marketing

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 1

Profile

Created

November 2025

Last Update

March 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Vessela based?

Vessela is based in Berlin, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Vessela speak?

Vessela speaks the following languages: English (Advanced), Bulgarian (Intermediate), German (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Vessela have?

Vessela has at least 20 years of experience. During this time, Vessela has worked in at least 10 different roles and for 10 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 10 months. Note that Vessela may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Vessela be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Vessela would be well-suited for roles such as: People & Growth Leader | Interim HR Executive | Aligning GTM Strategy, Leadership & Team Performance, VP People and Organization, Director HR MIS.

What is Vessela's latest experience?

Vessela's most recent position is People & Growth Leader | Interim HR Executive | Aligning GTM Strategy, Leadership & Team Performance at Mindful Concepts.

What companies has Vessela worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Vessela has worked for Mindful Concepts, think-cell Software GmbH, Novanta Inc., Femme Palette, and Workplace Accelerator.

Which industries is Vessela most experienced in?

Vessela is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Information Technology, and Insurance. Vessela also has some experience in Education, Metals and Mining, and Advertising.

Which business areas is Vessela most experienced in?

Vessela is most experienced in business areas like Human Resources, Strategy, and Marketing.

Which industries has Vessela worked in recently?

Vessela has recently worked in industries like Professional Services, Insurance, and Education.

Which business areas has Vessela worked in recently?

Vessela has recently worked in business areas like Human Resources, Marketing, and Strategy.

What is Vessela's education?

Vessela holds a Master in HR Management and a Bachelor in Psychology.

Does Vessela have any certificates?

Vessela has 1 certificate: Certified Coach.

What is the availability of Vessela?

Vessela will be available part-time from April 2026.

What is the rate of Vessela?

Vessela's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.

How to hire Vessela?

To hire Vessela, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.

Average rates for similar positions

Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.

1000

750

500

250

Market avg: 792-952 €

The rates shown represent the typical market range for freelancers in this position based on recent contracts on our platform.

Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.

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