A little about me.
I have worked with some really great people. And I made it a point to learn something from each of them throughout my career.
I have found that most people want to do a good job. But sometimes we need help - to find good training or resources, or to feel empowered to make good decisions. As leaders, if we make time to lift people up in the way that they need it, then not only will they rise to the occasion, but they will also find new ways to support you and your business.
I believe that being smart is not presuming you are the smartest person in the room, but rather, the ability to give voice to the room until the best idea wins. It requires asking very good questions and listening intently. It means doing research, finding data that supports the idea, seeing it through, and testing it, until you’ve got it right.
It’s important to me to love what I do. I need to be able to laugh, and enjoy most of the moments in my day. In HR, in people management, in motherhood…this can be challenging. Finding the funny in a situation is crucial to feeling balanced. I have honed my creative wit, embraced sarcasm, and like to be a little cheeky now and then.
I am committed to doing good, being smart and finding the funny in all things.
My background.
Success is measured differently by everyone, but I think everyone would acknowledge that the success they have achieved is credited, at least in part, to the people they have worked with.
Restaurant Management
2003-2013
After completing culinary school, I helped managed the dining room of the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant on campus at The Culinary Institute of America, eventually transferring to their special events department as an event manager for high profile clients. After moving to San Francisco, I opened the La Boulange in Hayes Valley as the GM and grew to be a District Manager, a new role for the company, overseeing six locations. I was part of the team that built La Boulange into the company that Starbucks bought for $100 million.
Human Resources and Marketing
2017-2020
I applied my years of people management and customer relations to the internal human resources side at Cookline. I championed the culture of the company by being the biggest cheerleader of their values. I authored training programs, annual performance review process, coaching standards and policies. I was also able to flex my creative muscles by handling marketing. I managed their social media, website and authored a client facing newsletter each month. I have maintained them as a client in my consulting.
Customer Experience
2013-2017
After years in the restaurant industry, I applied my knowledge of serving guests and managing people to building a customer experience at Brilliant Earth, a luxury retailer of ethically sourced fine jewelry. I had the responsibility of creating new display and merchandising tools, and refining the customer experience in our San Francisco showroom. I also managed senior sales representatives, developed emerging leaders in the company, and implemented tools and training to manage difficult customer issues.
Consulting
2020-present
I am utilizing all of the experiences in my tool belt and the resources that I’ve come to trust, to offer peace of mind to clients who want to grow their team and manage people in an intentional way. I know what it is to be “in the weeds” and have trouble seeing the path out, or forward. And I believe sincerely, that the relationships we build with our people absolutely determine the success of our business. I approach challenges with a people first perspective and support clients to build HR systems and processes that will help their team thrive, which in turn spills over into the experience they give to clients and grows their business.