I'm Melissa.
I'm so glad you are here
My Background
For over two decades, I’ve worked inside and alongside organizations through seasons of rapid growth, structural change, leadership transitions, and culture reset moments.
I’ve served as an executive HR leader in Fortune 500 companies, supported founders scaling fast, and coached nonprofit and HR leaders quietly holding more than anyone realizes. ​​I’ve led HR teams, advised executives, taught university students, and coached hundreds of leaders.
​The Opportunity
I’ve seen the inner workings of high-performing teams and the quiet exhaustion that can live beneath the surface of success. I’ve lived through many of the same leadership challenges my clients face, trying to be everything to everyone, working through burnout, questioning what “enough” really means.
Many high-performing leaders look strong on the surface but are one decision away from burnout. They’re carrying their teams, navigating funding shifts, rewriting org charts, and asking themselves: “How long can I keep leading like this?”
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I also see scaling organizations try to make things work without focusing on the people part of their strategy – their organization design, the leadership capability, their retention strategies, and the HR team they will need to make it work.
My story
That's where I come in
I partner with leaders to think through what makes sense for their situation—not the generic playbook. I bring a calm, clear presence and a mix of strategic insight, candid perspective, and space to breathe. My clients don’t need more noise. They need someone who can challenge assumptions, help map the terrain, and support intentional leadership—even through uncertainty. They need a strategic partner for their talent agenda. Together, we focus on building endurance and lasting strength, not just sprinting toward short-term results.
On a Personal Level
I’ve run marathons, completed Ragnar relays, and tackled sprint triathlons—not for medals, but for the community in the training and the energy at the starting line. Everyone out there doing something hard, together. That’s the spirit I try to bring into my work: commitment, accountability, and forward momentum—even when the path isn’t linear.
These days, I live in a beach town where I try to practice what I preach. I moved here to design a life that allows space for both ambition and recovery, focus and play. I’m the parent of two young adults—no longer in the day-to-day of caretaking, but learning what it means to support them as they lead lives of their own.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me walking by the ocean, sipping a bold red on the patio, or reading a good spy novel with coffee in hand.