Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Francesca Astino. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Francesca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Creating my business has been one of the biggest risks that I have ever taken. I studied Business and Human Resources in college and when I look back now, I realize that we never learned about creating our own businesses. Instead, it was all focused on how to be a “good employee” in a corporation. In Business school, you are learning how to work for someone else, but what about working for yourself? When you work for someone else, you really never get to have the final say on things relating to the business, but when you start your own business, who is going to tell you that you’re wrong or that your ideas aren’t good enough?

The past few years have led me to realize that I am a really excellent independent worker and that my ideas and opinions matter! That realization helped me to take the leap to start consulting full time. When I was figuring out what kinds of services I could provide small businesses and start-ups, I knew that my almost 8 years of knowledge and experience of HR and Administrative support would lead me to where I needed to go. Now, I am about to take on my 5th client and have been able to make a living doing this work.

Taking the time to fully form something that came from an idea makes me so grateful for my independence and sheer will to create a better life for myself. It also has taught me a lot about how to trust myself along the process.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Fran Astino (she/her), and I provide Human Resources and Administrative consulting services to small businesses and start-ups. I also offer yoga and sound meditation private sessions across Western Massachusetts. I’m passionate about making Human Resources more “human.” I’ve noticed a change in workplace expectations since 2020, especially since the events of the stay at home order. Though positive things have come from it, like work from home ability for those that need an automatic boundary set or to create more accessible work environments, there has also been a loss of connection and support for employee growth. It’s been noticeable to me that many small businesses and start-ups have been working without HR and administrative support from their inception, causing workflow issues no matter the industry, so that is where I come in!

When I turned 18 and took my first career aptitude test, it told me to study Human Resources in college. I was lucky to even know what HR was, since my mom had a career in it years prior. Throughout my time in school, I learned about the careful balance of ensuring that both the business owner and the employees are happy and well cared for. I knew that was something I could manage as an empath and community-driven human being. I graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY in 2016 with a degree in Business Administration and Human Resources.

After completing my degree, I worked in various roles across the HR landscape. I consider myself to be a “Generalist” because of my skills in most HR disciplines including administration, compensation & benefits, talent acquisition, recruiting, onboarding & off boarding, employee engagement, training & development and more.

In 2021, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training program at Balance Studio, which laid the groundwork for a transformative exploration that extended beyond the physical practice. After completing the training, I realized that I still had a lot to learn about yoga philosophy and how to cue for all bodies, so I spent 2022-2023 deepening my study.

In 2023, I completed a 75-hour continuing education program led by Michelle C. Johnson, a dismantling racism trainer and yoga teacher. This specialized training, called Skill in Action, equipped me with the tools to foster an environment where yoga not only nurtures the body but aligns with principles of equity and justice. I learned more about the needs of marginalized communities within the yoga space and have made it my mission to ensure that I create as safe a space as possible for BIPOC, trans, and gender diverse folks.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Something that starting my own business has taught me is that I don’t need to work with any clients that don’t align with my values. When you work for a corporation, there are going to be people that come into your orbit that you never would have interacted with had this job not brought you together. That is okay!!

When you start to work for yourself, you can really see the difference in what lights you up and what dulls your sparkle. I just turned 30, and one of the things that I have made very clear about this decade is that I am not going to spend my time doing things that I don’t want to do. That includes working with folks that don’t support my community, my aspirations for my business, or my principles.

Finding potential clients and reaching out to businesses that I WANT to work for has led me to some of the amazing clients I work with today! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and reach out to those *dream* clients, because they might be looking for someone just like you!

How did you build your audience on social media?

With the rise of AI and the digital age, I keep hearing people use the word “Authenticity.” As broad as that is, I really believe that is how I have been able to build my audience on social media. I don’t do well in situations where I feel like someone is being inauthentic, and I would say that authenticity is one of my strong suits (followed by my empathy and genuine care for others). I have found it incredibly important to post Instagram posts and stories that share a little bit more of what I’m reading about, what I do on a daily basis, or what causes I believe in. This then creates genuine connections with the people that follow my business page. Whether it’s a silly meme or a post about the current political climate, I think that sharing these things makes a difference in the genuine engagement and following that social media can build.

Contact Info:

• Website: franastinoconsulting.com
• Instagram: @franastinoconsulting
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/franastino/

Image Credits
Daniela Marchione