Meet The Founder

Vanessa Martinez, SPHR

Founder & Chief HR Strategist, Parity HR

Vanessa Martinez, founder of Parity HR, providing strategic HR solutions for startups and mission-driven organizations.

Hi! I’m Vanessa, founder of Parity HR.

I bring over 20 years of strategic HR leadership, with every chapter rooted in equity. But my path wasn't typical—and that's what makes my approach different. I've co-founded two successful businesses—El Luchador Bar and Tandem Coffee, both thriving in San Antonio. Building those businesses taught me what it's like to navigate growth with limited resources, make payroll when it's tight, and create culture through passion as much as process. I bring that founder's mindset to every engagement.

I serve as Chair of the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women for the seventh largest city in the United States (San Antonio, Texas). In this role, I've seen how workplace practices ripple into entire communities—creating economic pathways or reinforcing barriers.

I've also published writing in Trinity University Press's *Worth Repeating*, a collection of San Antonio stories. I understand that narrative shapes culture as much as any policy does.

My work centers on solving complex people problems—and aligning them to overall corporate strategy, rooted in equity. I've built executive teams and helped organizations understand what strategic systems work best for their leadership. I've guided ESOP transitions, creating transparency and an ownership culture that helps employees understand their new roles as owners—not just the legal structure, but the lived reality of shared ownership.

I've sat on multiple executive teams, boards, and commissions, understand the language of business outcomes, and know how to balance strategic thinking with genuine human connection.

If that resonates with you, let's talk about what we can build together.