Courtesy HR Ninja
By Ann Donnelly
Lisa Boucher, founder of HR Ninja, has built a unique business model that successfully merges decades of human resources experience with the discipline of martial arts. Based in Hudson Falls, Boucher established HR Ninja in May of this year, offering strategic guidance, compliance assistance, and project management primarily to small businesses and nonprofits.
The memorable name of her company directly reflects her dual passions. Boucher has worked in the human resources world for over 25 years. However, she explained the “Ninja part” of the name: “I’m a sixth degree black belt in Taekwondo and I have my own martial arts school in Hudson Falls and I’ve been doing that for over 30 years”.
Boucher finds that the lessons learned in martial arts translate directly into business consulting. She noted that both fields require tough conversations necessary for growth and development.
“A lot of what I’ve learned from one can show up in the other. And so one of the things in the HR world is having hard conversations,” Boucher said. “We do a lot of that in the martial arts world because when you’re training and growing individuals, sometimes you have to have hard conversations with them when you see so much potential on how to get that out of them and help them to be their best”.
Boucher’s varied professional background provides her with a holistic understanding of business operations. Her four-year degree is in accounting, and she holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the College of St. Rose. She initially worked as an accountant in the local mining industry, handling payroll and accounts payable, before being asked to step into the HR director role. “I just loved it. I loved working with people,” she recalled of her transition to human resources.
This broad operational experience—including running other small businesses and assisting her husband with his company for over 30 years—is what Boucher sees as her competitive advantage. “I understand more than just your human resources,” Boucher stated. “I understand the operations side, not just the HR side. So I understand when we make an HR change, it affects more than just the HR side of your business, which is important”.
HR Ninja’s core clientele is typically businesses with 50 or fewer employees. These organizations often cannot afford a full-time human resources employee and rely on existing staff to manage essential functions, which can lead to challenges with policies, compliance, and time-consuming projects.
Boucher and HR Ninja function as a project guide or a reliable sounding board. Her services include managing payroll conversions, recruiting, onboarding, training, and open enrollment. She emphasizes the benefit of utilizing fractional expertise. “That’s where fractional people can come in. You’re not adding a salary to your team. You’re not worried about the benefits, but you’re getting an expert for those hours that really gives you that base you need,” she explained.
Boucher often steps in when businesses are being reactive rather than proactive, helping them mitigate financial exposure related to non-compliance, such as failing to provide written notice for changes in pay rates.
“I think most of them are handling it well, but it’s more reactive rather than proactive. When you bring the HR person in, they can step back and take a look and say, “Here are some small things we can do proactively to line you up for success”.
The complexity of the human resources landscape, which includes intricate legal dances around issues like the Family and Medical Leave Act and state-specific paid sick time, means employers need careful guidance. Beyond compliance, Boucher advises on ancillary benefits that cost the employer nothing but provide greater peace of mind for employees.
“When we support an employee’s home life, they’re more stable at work. They’re more likely to be there and be more present, which is important,” she noted. She stresses that, despite common belief, HR involves gray areas: “People think HR is black and white rules and regulations, and reality is every situation is different.”
In addition to her consulting work, Boucher co-runs the HR Cafe with Lauren Gomes Atwood, Director of Human Resources at Ascend Mental Wellness. The monthly meeting, often held at Crandall Library, is a dedicated space for networking, sharing ideas, and peer support for anyone who “touches HR in any way”.
HR Cafe addresses the burnout common in the human resources field, which lacks internal support. “Everybody comes to HR for support, but where do we go? So now by creating this network and this group, we can rely on each other in those moments,” Boucher shared.
Looking ahead, Boucher remains committed to her community.
“I just want to impact our local community as much as possible… I just want to see our community thrive and be happy,” she affirmed. Boucher serves her clients remotely, but she is ready to be hands-on for local businesses, stating, “If they have a business and they want me to come with my boots on and my hard hat, I’m in”.
For more information on Lisa Boucher and HR Ninjas, visit lisaboucher.com.