In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving workplace, effective leadership demands more than just strategic vision and task management—it requires cultivating trust and practicing compassion. Leaders who prioritize these values create environments where innovation flourishes, teams stay resilient, and organizations thrive.
Leading with Trust and Compassion
Our brand vision
Fostering Leaders was founded on the belief that small and mid-sized businesses deserve the same level of HR strategy, innovation, and support that larger organizations rely on to succeed. Too often, smaller companies face the same workforce challenges—recruitment, compliance, retention, leadership development—without the resources or infrastructure to address them effectively.
Our purpose is to close that gap. By delivering executive-level HR expertise in a scalable, accessible way, we empower small businesses to align their people strategy with their business strategy. We believe that when owners and leaders have the right tools, guidance, and innovative HR practices, they can not only operate more efficiently, but also create workplaces where employees thrive and where businesses make a lasting impact in their communities.
Fostering Leaders
Fostering Leaders
"Where Compassion meets Trust"
"Where Compassion meets Trust"
Discover our services
Workforce Solutions
The right people, the right roles, the right results.
Your people are your greatest asset — but finding, developing, and keeping top talent takes strategy. We help you build a workforce that’s not just skilled, but engaged and motivated to achieve your vision. From onboarding to retention, we work alongside you to create an environment where both your business and your people can flourish.
What we offer:
Retention programs that keep your best employees!
Collaboration and creation of systems and tools to create compliance and efficiencies
Workforce planning to meet future needs
Day to day leadership coaching and support to work through questions and challenges
HR on Demand
Your HR partner, on your schedule.
We believe leadership is more than a title — it’s a daily commitment to growth, empathy, and results. Our interactive training programs are designed to unlock potential, strengthen communication, and cultivate the kind of leaders people want to follow.
What we Offer:
Engaging, hands-on workshops (no boring PowerPoints here)
Real-world skills you can apply immediately
A supportive space to practice and grow
Leadership training
Grow leaders who inspire, not just manage.
From quick compliance questions to navigating complex employee challenges, HR On Demand gives you instant access to the knowledge and guidance you need — without the overhead of a full-time department. Think of us as your go-to HR lifeline: responsive, reliable, and ready to help you handle anything from hiring to handbooks.
What we offer:
Day to day support for employees and leaders
Full service HR or fractional HR, we design it to meet your needs
Peace of mind knowing you’re compliant and confident
Practical solutions, that match your culture
About Our Founder
Susan Foster LaCoe is the Founder and CEO of Fostering Leaders, LLC, a women-owned human resources consulting firm based in Lexington, Kentucky. With more than 25 years of executive-level experience in HR, operations management, and labor relations, Susan has held leadership roles at respected companies including GE Appliances, Corning Incorporated, and Zeon Chemicals.
In 2022, Susan launched Fostering Leaders to provide affordable, high-impact HR solutions for small and mid-sized businesses. Her firm helps organizations align people strategy with business goals, specializing in leadership coaching, workforce development, and comprehensive HR support. She is passionate about building inclusive, high-performing cultures and developing leaders who combine competence with compassion.
Susan is a certified practitioner in Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing and an active member of Bluegrass SHRM. She chairs the Epic Awards for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Kentucky Chapter, works with KCTC on community training initiatives, and volunteers with nonprofits such as The Healing Place and Family Scholar House. She was recently named to the Leadership Central Kentucky Class of 2025–2026 and holds SHRM Certifications for SPHR & SHRM-SPC. Susan is also a certified instructor for SHRM PDC’s.
Through her work and service, Susan is committed to strengthening the Central Kentucky community by empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.
