Our Team

An HR professional with over 35 years of experience, Barbara Irwin founded HR Advisors Group in 2003. She partners and consults with both private and public organizations in the architectural/engineering fields, as well as non-profit and technology firms. As CEO, she leads a team which has brought data-driven solutions to organizations of all sizes across the U.S. in leadership development, visioning, strategic planning, purpose alignment, and HR strategy, as well as the HR fundamentals clients need.

Barbara’s approach has been to develop relationships with our clients first. She knows that trust leads to success. If we want our clients to trust us, then they need to know us first. There are a lot of consultants that our clients can go to and it’s important that they believe that the work we do is going to help them succeed today and tomorrow.

Barbara has obtained recognition for HR Advisors Group as a Certified Woman Owned Business, State of Virginia (SWAM), and serves as a member of A|E Advisors, a group of management consultants focusing on the architecture, engineering and construction industry. She has an MA in Human Resource Management from Marymount University and a BA in Sociology from the University of Maryland.

I believe that enjoying all aspects of life is important because time passes by so quickly. Family is my number one priority, yet, as dedicated as I am to my family, I am also passionate about the mission of HR and all that it encompasses. 

Having the quality time to spend with my family, no matter what stage of life they are in, and having a successful career that aligns with my values and vision has always been a priority for me. Work-life balance has always been a challenge but recognizing that family and career go together hand-in-hand provides me with the clarity of what’s important.  I know that being able to take time to enjoy my family, focus on mindfulness practices, and relax with a good book helps me to unwind and recharge. Having the chance to travel and explore new cultures around the world allows me to bring a new and fresh perspective to our clients’ needs and opportunities.