Rheal Solutions professional branding monogram logo featuring a stylized crimson letter R.

Rhea C. Norwood

Founder & Principal Advisor

Enterprise HR executive with 20+ years architecting and operating human capital strategy across global, scaling, and highly regulated organizations. Full-cycle operating experience — workforce planning, organizational design, talent & succession, total rewards strategy, HR technology, and culture — for enterprises ranging from 0→1 ventures to 55,000+ person workforces.

Trusted partner to CEOs, Boards, and executive teams driving transformation, operating model build, M&A integration, and enterprise scale. Equally fluent in growth-stage velocity and Fortune 500 governance.

Core Expertise

Professional headshot of Rhea C. Norwood, Founder and Principal Advisor at Rheal Solutions, smiling in red blouse with black buttons.

Human Capital Strategy

HR Ops Model & Shared Services

Workforce Planning & Org Design

Executive & Board Advisory

Controlled Exit Strategy

AI People Strategy

Talent & Succession Strategy

M&A Integration Planning

Culture & EVP Strategy

Global Workforce Scale
0 K+
Revenue Growth Enabled
$ 0 M
Redeployment Retention
0 %
Supplier Strategy Launch
$ 0 B

Transformation Highlights

HR Operating Model Build

Designed 0→1 HR model for incubated ventures — balancing speed with risk controls — enabling $10M revenue growth across new businesses.

Centralization Transformation

Played key role transforming decentralized HR into centralized HRBP operating model across the enterprise, improving governance and efficiency.

Crisis Workforce Mobilization

Mobilized 3,000+ employees in 72 hours to deliver federal SBA stimulus to 1,000+ small businesses.

Enterprise Strategy & Disclosure

Built operating model that strengthened data governance, audit readiness, and Board-level human capital disclosure across 10-K, Proxy, and ESG.al

Professional Experience Highlights

  • Rheal Solutions | 2024 – Present
  •     Principal, HR Strategy & Advisory
  • Capital One Financial | 2016 – 2025
  •     Head of Enterprise HR Belonging Strategy
  •     Head of HR — Emerging Merchant Business & Accelerator
  •     Head of HR — Small Business Card
  •     Head of HR — Small Business Bank
  •     HR Business Partner — Retail (Consumer) Banking
  • Starbucks Coffee Company | 2014 – 2016
  •     HR Business Partner — Mid-Atlantic Region
  • Lowe's Corporation | 2009 – 2014
  •     Director, Diversity & Inclusion
  •     Director, Learning & Organizational Effectiveness
  • Kelly Services | 1995 – 2009
  •     Progressive HR & Workforce Strategy Leadership

Board & Advisory Highlights