Michelle Thompson

Michelle is a seasoned People Operations and Human Resources leader with more than 15 years of progressive experience supporting dynamic, high-growth organizations. Throughout her career, Michelle has consistently excelled at designing, implementing, and managing end-to-end HR systems—including Payroll, Benefits, and Talent Management—specializing in small to mid-sized startup environments. Her work reflects a deep commitment to building thoughtful, scalable systems that center people while driving organizational success.

In her current role as Director of People at Waverley Street Foundation, Michelle plays a pivotal role in shaping and sustaining a workplace culture where employees are not only inspired to do their best work, but also feel seen, valued, and empowered to show up as their authentic selves. She leads the organization’s professional and personal development efforts, supports inclusive and equitable practices, and champions a human-centric approach across all areas of the employee experience.

Michelle’s background spans a variety of operational, management, and executive leadership roles. She has served as a trusted member of senior leadership teams, partnering closely with executive leadership and Boards of Directors to align people strategies with organizational goals. In many of her previous roles, she was responsible for leading entire HR functions and overseeing critical areas like organizational design, culture transformation, and strategic workforce planning.

Known for her empathetic leadership style and systems thinking, Michelle is passionate about creating environments where individuals thrive and organizations grow with intention.

Outside of work, you can find her behind the camera pursuing her love of photography, playing a friendly game of softball, or spending quality time with her family.