As a strategic people partner and change leader, I bring deep practical experience in launching new organizations, fostering teamwork, and driving an inclusive culture. In both entrepreneurial and mature business environments, I’ve optimized structure, teams, and processes while harnessing a relationship- and values-centered approach in navigating challenges of customer-focused, evolving, and fast-paced environments. My diverse industry exposure in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors spans conservation in support of Smithsonian’s National Zoo, higher education at Laureate Education, technology at Nokia, entertainment/hospitality at Disneyland Resort, and retail at Kmart. Serving as COO/Chief People Officer at Conservation Nation, I lead with vision, clarity, and empathy for the organization, partners, and customers. With expertise in translating business strategy into actionable plans and people strategy, I partnered with senior leadership and worked with cross-functional teams to build and launch the nonprofit by cooperatively setting the mission, vision, values, standards, and culture—all while ramping down legacy operations. As former Chief People Officer at Friends of the National Zoo, I broadened my responsibilities to include technology, finance, administration, and anything else that needed to be done—from strengthening our DEIB approach to scaling HR in support of business growth and transformation. In all my endeavors, I strive to find creative solutions to make business impact, and I’m proud that my colleagues have referred to me as "the Practical Optimist," “Ms. Fix It,” and the “un-HR HR person.” I work hard to build a strong sense of community and serve as an inspiring mentor to guide efforts, navigate ambiguity, remove obstacles, and enable career growth. I’m a firm believer that when all people are valued, strong performance follows.Throughout my career, I’ve built high-performing teams, served as a trusted business partner, and led significant organizational change with recognition for my ability to: • Lead with credibility, authenticity, and honesty and build strong relationships throughout all levels of the organization.• Foster a team-based culture rooted in open communication, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. • Mentor talent, empower performance, and connect teams to the broader business strategy and mission.• Deliver on commitments with agility to adapt to changing business demands and drive momentum.