High Technology Start-ups: Venture-capital-funded start-ups, mostly in high technology, including fabless semiconductors, systems and software companies, from initial funding stage (Concept, R&D) to IPO. Currently these include Sequoia Communications, T-RAM, Calypto Systems Design, PacketHop, Silicon Clocks and Inphi Incorporated.

Venture Capital Firms: Small to large funds focused on high technology investments, primarily based in Silicon Valley. These include Tallwood Venture Capital, USVP, Walden International and Blue Run Ventures.

High Technology Emerging Companies: Post IPO (1-2 years).

Non Profit Organizations

Cecilia approaches every assignment without preconceptions - her experience is one asset, her creativity and drive to see each company as distinctive is a second. This allows her to step outside of convention and consider possibilities that speak to that distinctiveness. Her years of experience as an executive in entrepreneurial companies and as a consultant to the venture community, coupled with her commitment to excel, make her a unique resource for Organizational Development and Compensation projects.
- General Partner, Silicon Valley Venture Capital Firm

I have worked with Cecilia for more than 15 years and have found her to be very effective in dealing with the challenges start-ups face in starting and growing a business. The compensation survey she developed has been a great tool for our start-ups by providing them with current data on salary and stock option ranges for similarly positioned private companies. She is also very experienced in organizational development as well as sorting through people issues, particularly in early stage companies.
- Partner, Silicon Valley Venture Capital Firm

The Fabless Semi Compensation Survey has become a must-have tool for us and for our portfolio company CEOs. Instead of stale data across many different types and stages of companies, you get information that reflects today's reality in private fabless semiconductor companies. Cecilia understands how these companies work, so she knows what the data means -- and she has helped a number of our companies along the way. The survey is an indispensable tool for establishing executive compensation and for option budgeting.
- Partner, Silicon Valley Venture Capital Firm

I find that Cecilia's survey is the most accurate because of laser focus in region, sector, and stage of investment. The others tend to include public companies or those in other areas on the country. Cecilia gets to know the management teams and has a better sense of them as a result. Also, she can and does provide human resources consulting services to them as needed. I do think her survey is the best of all the ones I have seen and use it most often to benchmark.
- Partner, Silicon Valley Venture Capital Firm

Cecilia Hayes has been an excellent resource to me as my department grew by a net 30 employees over two years. Her proven methods and experience complement her rare ability to talk to both management and employees in a straightforward manner and help them understand what they need to do to cut through the crap and get to the heart of the matter.
- VP Engineering, RF Start Up

Retaining talent and getting the most out of every employee are critical success factors for any startup. Cecilia is extremely experienced and talented in this area. She challenges the management team to focus on all aspects of performance management, including a robust performance review process, feedback coaching for managers, and performance enhancements for employees. These are just a couple of examples of her work in building an effective organization.

I am totally convinced that we are vastly better company because of her work, translating to a competitive advantage for the company as a whole.
- CEO, RF Start Up, San Diego, CA

Cecilia's broad Human Resources experience and knowledge have enabled her to provide extremely valuable counsel in managing various compensation and human resource issues. She has benefited our company in the development of our human resource strategies.
- CEO, Systems Software Company, Redwood City