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Hi, I’m Michelle!

I used to be a blogger.

If we’ve been connected for awhile, you may recall that I maintained a little corner of the internet called phase(two)learning for almost a decade. On the blog, I explored Talent Development strategies, creative facilitation techniques, and an occasional hot take about life in the Talent Development trenches. It’s still out there, and still pulls in some impressive stats for not having new content posted for several years. I loved this creative outlet and the small community I had curated through the blog.

So, why did I stop?

Around the time my posting started slowing down, I was at a bit of a career crossroads. My role had expanded at the day job – I’d been promoted from a frontline Talent Development manager role to a more strategic AVP role. That Talent Development “trench” I mentioned a moment ago? Well, I looked around and realized I had moved into a different trench, and my own experiences and development needs had evolved – despite my passion for Talent Development being as stong as ever (my final phase(two)learning post says it all). I didn’t recognize the trench at the time, so I leaned in.

(Boy, did I ever!)

A year later, the AVP role became a VP role. And then, in February 2024, I was promoted to Chief People Officer – all at the same organization, where I still am today leading the People & Culture (HR and Talent Development) function for a thriving organization and co-hosting a weekly career development podcast, Career Dreams. Another new trench, but this time my POV is clear.

Throughout my 25+ year career journey, from a frontline L&D practitioner to the c-suite, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to support people in building future-ready organizations. Just like the definition, a compendium is a collection of concise but detailed information…so with that in mind, I’ll be sharing practical, common-sense insights on succession, leader capability, talent strategy, and the real work of becoming a trusted Talent executive. Whether you’re building your organization’s leadership bench or building your own path toward senior leadership, I hope you’ll join me in the trench!