Building organizations that actually work
Great companies are built by great leaders. But great leaders can't do it alone. At some point, every growing organization hits the moment where the people challenges outpace the founder's ability to manage them solo: hiring is breaking, the leadership team is misaligned, compensation is a mess, and the culture that used to hold everything together is fraying under the weight of growth.
We help companies navigate that moment. Michael has spent 25 years building, advising, and consulting inside more than 30 organizations — from venture-backed startups to large media enterprises to mission-driven nonprofits. We bring that experience to bear as a fractional member of your leadership team, a project-based consultant, or a strategic advisor — depending on what the moment requires.
Fractional Chief People Officer
Our core offering: senior people leadership on a flexible retainer, without the full-time hire.
Most seed-to-Series B companies know they need a seasoned people leader. They're not sure they can justify the full-time cost, and they can't afford to get the hire wrong. We fill that gap — embedding with your leadership team on a monthly retainer, typically 15–25 hours per month, with a three-month minimum.
This isn't outside consulting. We attend your leadership meetings, build relationships with your managers, and operate as a trusted member of the inner circle. The work is hands-on:
People ops foundations — compensation bands, leveling frameworks, performance management cadence, hiring scorecards, onboarding systems. The infrastructure that lets you scale without losing your culture.
Leadership team development — 1:1 coaching for founders and senior leaders, team offsites, and the difficult conversations about roles, dynamics, and growth.
Organizational design — structural reviews, role clarity, manager development, and planning for the next stage of growth before you're already in it.
Culture and values work — translating aspirational values into operational norms. Building the kind of organization people don't want to leave.
For companies with more urgent needs, we also offer interim CPO engagements — a higher-intensity commitment for a defined window during a leadership transition or rapid scaling period.
Project-based consulting
Not every engagement needs to be an ongoing retainer. We also take on defined-scope projects:
Organizational assessments — a structured review of your people function, leadership dynamics, and organizational health, with a concrete set of recommendations. Useful when you know something isn't working but aren't sure where to start.
Leadership team offsites and retreats — designed and facilitated by us, using coaching frameworks and diagnostic tools like the Leadership Circle Profile. Half-day, full-day, or multi-day formats.
Culture and change management — for organizations navigating a merger, a leadership transition, a layoff, or a strategic pivot. We help leadership teams make hard decisions and bring their people along.
AI readiness for nonprofits — helping mission-driven organizations think strategically about AI adoption: what to adopt, how to manage the change, and how to stay true to your mission while modernizing your operations.
Who we work with
Seed-to-Series D startups navigating the transition from founder-led to professionally managed
Media, content, and creator-economy companies — where our 25 years of digital media operations experience is directly relevant
Mission-driven organizations and nonprofits navigating growth, leadership change, or modernization
What Clients Say
“Michael made a tremendous impact on our startup in just a few months, even with very limited hours. He brought the structure, mentorship, and operational expertise we needed at a critical time. He refined and formalized our people operations — from roles and hiring to onboarding and communication — creating documentation and systems we’ll use for years. Michael consistently went above and beyond, navigating tough internal conversations with empathy and clarity.”
“Michael stepped into a complicated moment with warmth, clarity, and a calm presence that instantly made everything feel more manageable. He built systems, strengthened culture, and put the right people and processes in place — work that will have a long-lasting impact. More than anything, he made people feel supported, capable, and understood.”
Let’s see if there’s a fit
We're selective about who we work with — mission alignment and leadership coachability matter as much as stage and size. The first conversation is always free and always honest.