HR & People Ops
for Creative Ventures
structure as well as creativity
Introduction
I founded as well as after 15 years building HR and people strategies in hospitality and design-led organizations. Today, I partner with startups, nonprofits, and creative ventures as an embedded partner, project-based consultant, and trusted advisor. The goal is to help creative companies thrive in ways that honor both their purpose and their people.
These principles shape my approach
and the results I create with clients.
About
The name as well as reflects that work is layered and dynamic. It’s an invitation to hold space for nuance, welcome complexity, and create with optimism.
I’ve led HR and People Ops at creative organizations including IDEO.org and the Eames Institute. Along the way, I learned the power of building HR not just as infrastructure, but as a reflection of values and a driver of culture. I love working from the ground up as well as refining what’s already in place, always adapting based on what we learn along the way.
Approached as a creative practice, HR and People Ops can amplify leadership’s vision, bring organizational values to life, and give individuals meaning through collective work.
My perspective is also shaped by chapters in hospitality, Peace Corps service, and graduate study in I-O psychology. These experiences taught me to embrace change, learn from differences, and approach this work as both art and science.
- Michelle D'Agrosa Dakin
Credentials
BS in Human Development | Cornell University
Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology | Harvard University
Every organization is unique, as are its people. I design customized engagements that align with objectives, stage of growth, and your culture.
Services
Ways we can partner:
Fractional HR Leadership
Strategic HR expertise embedded in your team without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Project-Based Consulting
Defined projects that span design, implementation, and refinement of people systems, tailored to your needs.
Advisory & Coaching
Flexible, on-call support for founders, executives, and HR teams seeking clarity, problem-solving, and added capacity.
Focus Areas:
HR Systems & Structure
Talent Acquisition
Onboarding & Learning
Compensation Strategy
Career Growth & Performance Systems
Organizational Design
Team Dynamics
Culture & Employee Experience
Employee Relations & Communication
Retreat & Offsite Design
Contact
I’d love to support your organization, as well as your people. Reach out and let’s explore what’s possible.
I partner with organizations coast to coast.
Available to travel as needed.
Based in Puerto Rico.
