For HR Leaders at Tech Startups
Helping People leaders think like business leaders
I help mid-stage to senior HR leaders build business acumen to land and succeed in their next role.
About Melissa
Turning HR expertise into business impact
My career has always been at the intersection of people and business. I started at a Fortune 2000 tech company through a rotational program spanning product management, HR, and sales operations — then joined a startup as employee #22, wearing every hat from People Ops to finance to customer success.
Over the past decade, I've led people and revenue functions at companies scaling from 20 to 1,000+ employees across bootstrapped, VC-backed, and post-IPO SaaS environments. My foundation in psychology and education shapes how I think about building teams and developing leaders.
Today I focus on one thing: helping People leaders break through the ceiling that keeps fewer than 4% of HR professionals from reaching VP level — and thrive once they do.
Connect on LinkedInTrusted by people leaders and executive teams at companies like
"Melissa's deep domain expertise allowed her to hit the ground running. If I had to describe her in sports terms: she's the Michael Jordan of all things People Ops."
"Melissa provides actionable feedback, practical resources, and incredible strategies that I will be using for the rest of my career. If you're looking for a mentor who meets you where you're at while still challenging you, Melissa is the one."
"Melissa took Column from just under 15 to over 50 employees practically overnight. She instituted people processes and frameworks I'm confident will scale with us — we'll be grateful for her work for years to come."
"Melissa has a real talent for guiding conversations through thoughtful questions that help you think critically and reach the right conclusions. I've learned so much from her guidance."
"I've learned more from Melissa than any other person I've worked with anywhere. She brings both empathy and high standards — proving you don't have to sacrifice operational efficiency to make space for people to be people."
"Love 'The Business of People' newsletter. I used one of the templates last week and refer back to content when employees have questions. The content is researched and up-to-the-minute useful!"
"Melissa is the most impressive individual I have ever worked with — defined by extreme focus and an unparalleled ability to organize both people and processes."
Newsletter Archive
Past Issues
Every issue of The Business of People, available to read free.
Two Weeks of a VP of People's Claude Use Cases
March 31, 2026
The 4 Questions That Make You a Better Meeting Facilitator
March 17, 2026
The playbooks for internal AI adoption (because there isn't one tried and true standard yet)
February 10, 2026
How to avoid overpaying for the wrong executive experience
January 6, 2026
You're stuck at Senior Manager. Commercial literacy might be the culprit
December 16, 2025
The career multiplier that nobody talks about
November 17, 2025
Dial equity up to 11
November 11, 2025
The art of getting to "Yes" as an HR Business Partner
November 4, 2025
How to build a headcount plan that actually works
October 21, 2025
Why shutting down employee surveys is like unplugging the smoke detector
September 30, 2025
Job leveling is a translation and normalization exercise
September 16, 2025
Help your team navigate rapid skills obsolescence
September 2, 2025
Digital Products
Tools & Templates
Practical, plug-and-play resources built from real experience scaling People functions at tech startups. Buy once, use forever.
People Operations Organizational Diagnostic
120+ assessment points across 12 sub-domains — talent acquisition, compensation, engagement, investor relations, and more. Evaluate where your People function stands and what to prioritize next.
Buy Now →Startup Operating Models
Things that work at 20 people break at 50. Get meeting cadences, operating structures, and org frameworks purpose-built for companies at 15–49 and 50–150 employees — before the cracks appear.
Buy Now →How to Build a Personal Brand on LinkedIn as an HR Leader
A 14-page guide to turning your LinkedIn profile into a high-converting career asset — from crafting your About section to using content to build visibility and land the opportunities you want.
Buy Now →Compensation Philosophy Template
A plug-and-play template with built-in prompts, sample language, and executive alignment questions — so you can write a transparent, persuasive compensation philosophy that actually reflects how you pay.
Buy Now →1-on-1 Mentoring & Coaching
Build a career that keeps pace with your ambition.
For HR leaders at tech startups who want a thought partner and are ready to feel confident about the next step in their career.
Standard Mentorship
$400 / month
- 4 × 30-min calls per month
- 2-day response time
- Hands-on support & accountability
- Career strategy & positioning
Lite Mentorship
$200 / month
- 2 × 30-min calls per month
- 3–4 day response time
- Goal-focused guidance
- Async Q&A support
1-on-1 Sessions
$89 / session
- 30-minute focused session
- LinkedIn profile review
- Resume feedback
- No commitment required
Partners & Perks
Recommended Resources
Platforms, programs, and resources I personally use and recommend — many with exclusive discounts for my community.
Step Up MBA
15% OffMaster business acumen and go from HR leader to business leader with this self-paced program.
Recommended Home Office Equipment
FreeThe gear I use to stay focused and productive working from home. Monitors, lighting, audio, and more, picked for remote professionals.
Open Org Workspace Pass
10% OffAccess all paid resources & playbooks, plus a custom AI build partner that makes planning and shipping people & culture work feel effortless. 10% off after free trial ends.
Recommended Business Books
FreePersonalized recommendations organized by goal: becoming a better leader, building your career, sharpening your People Ops skills, and understanding how startups work.
Get In Touch
Let's work together
Ready to level up your People career? Whether you're interested in mentoring, have a question about the newsletter, or just want to connect — I'd love to hear from you.