Thrive & Lead by Design, Inc.

As CEO and People-First Strategist, I help leaders close talent gaps, elevate teams, and build inclusive, thriving workplaces. My work spans leadership development & readiness, retention strategy, team effectiveness, and succession planning.

Highlights:
• Built and launched a scalable leadership development program for 80+ managers using design thinking—boosting productivity by 20% and increasing job placements by 15%.

• Drove 100% promotions and 20% productivity gains through targeted 1:1 coaching for emerging leaders.

• Reduced team turnover by 30% and increased productivity by 25% using DISC & Motivators assessments and team-based workshops.

• Designed digital playbooks, toolkits, and templates that saved clients 25% in time and improved solution consistency.

• Led end-to-end operations—research, trend analysis, thought leadership, and marketing—while growing brand presence to 700+ followers and 50K+ impressions in under a year.

• Built an automated Wix website using AI tools and integrations, reducing manual workflows by 20%.

• Actively explore and apply AI tools—Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Synthesia, Notion AI, Canva, Beautiful.ai, GrammarlyGO, and ClickUp AI—to enhance learning experiences, streamline and scale initiatives, improve communication, synthesize insights, and support executive decision-making.

• Formed strategic partnerships and delivered consulting engagements across sectors while continuously advancing professional development.

• Invested in continuous learning and professional development to stay at the forefront of leadership, coaching, and workplace trends—earning DISC & Motivators certification, completing the Beyond Barriers Leadership program, taking Skillshare & Linkedin courses, and actively engaging with the TroopHR community, Choice magazine, HBR, Podcasts, etc., and LinkedIn content covering AI, the future of work, & skills evolution.

To learn more, visit my website: https://www.thriveleadbydesign.com/

Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Development & Talent Strategy

Koli Inc.

As a family-run renovation business, we specialize in high-quality commercial and select residential projects—modernizing and revitalizing spaces with precision and care.

In my role, I wear the "soft hats"—leading finance, marketing, and operations across 100+ yearly contracts. My focus is on optimizing systems, streamlining workflows, and managing budgets, while my husband drives business growth and leads field operations with hands-on expertise.

Highlights
• Oversaw financial planning and budgeting across 100+ contracts, ensuring cost-efficiency and profitability
• Improved operational workflows, reducing project cycle times by 15% and enhancing client satisfaction
• Supported business growth through scalable processes and a customer-first approach, contributing to repeat client business and long-term partnerships

Together, we lead with purpose and partnership—delivering quality results and building trust through every renovation.

Chief Financial, Operations, and Marketing Officer

TroopHR

Excited to be part of this great community!
TroopHR is a national HR network created to empower People professionals to drive change and maximize their impact as leaders.  At Troop, People leaders connect with their peers, engage with industry thought leaders, and learn from master practitioners across the business community.

HR Community Member

Maya's Hope Foundation, Inc.

Support the foundation with fund raising, event strategy and execution, marketing and growth.

Host Committee Member

Morgan Stanley

Led strategy, operations, and talent initiatives for 350+ employees in the Virtual Engagement Associate (VEA) program across three locations, managing the full employee lifecycle and partnering cross-functionally to drive workforce transformation and business growth.

• Accelerated $10M+ in new asset growth by automating and streamlining hiring, onboarding, and training that deepened partnerships between internal teams and clients.

• Increased internal mobility by 90% and lifted revenue by 10–15% through career pathing and coaching that mapped clear growth trajectories for VEAs.

• Elevated high-potential talent pipeline by 25% and decreased early attrition by 20% with data-backed workforce planning, leadership development strategies, and recognition programs.

• Owned change management processes for all SOPs impacting 350+ team members, driving clarity and alignment.

• Co-designed and launched a summer internship program of ~20 interns in partnership with VEA campus recruiting, creating a robust experience and talent pipeline, while enhancing early-career development.

• Provided 1:1 coaching to 15+ diverse VEAs & Summer interns focused on career & skills development.

Vice President, People Business & Operations (VEA program)

Led and built an internal business line from the ground up, overseeing $3M+ in annual spend across 60+ external coaching partner relationships (third-party vendors). During my tenure, directly supported the development of 1,000+ Financial Advisors (FAs) and leaders through scalable, results-driven, and sustainable growth initiatives.

• Delivered $380M+ in new asset growth through targeted, high-impact programs covering sales, succession, communication, and leadership readiness.

• Cut vendor redundancy by 40% and streamlined compliance and contracting processes by 30% through rigorous vendor evaluation and negotiation.

• Increased team efficiency by 25% by creating SOPs, policy docs, and automation tools using Ariba and internal platforms.

• Analyzed program effectiveness using Qualtrics, Tableau, and Excel; insights led to $1M+ in new investments for scaling successful initiatives.

• Boosted satisfaction scores from 70% to 90% and improved business alignment through the design and delivery of leadership summits and strategic forums.

• Partnered with internal colleagues to design and implement leadership readiness strategies for 1,000+ Field Managers—including competency models, skills development, and succession planning—serving as a strategic thought partner throughout an extensive initiative from design to execution and performance analysis.

• Provided thought leadership for a multi-year org L&D platform upgrade, prioritizing employee engagement and needs throughout the process. 

• Advanced personal leadership and coaching skills through Worldwide Association of Business Coaches certification program, Third Factor's high-performance coaching program, and Her New Standard’s leadership accelerator for women.

• Provided 1:1 coaching to early- and mid-career women and ethnically diverse professionals—unlocking promotions, career pivots, and confidence boosts through goal-focused development plans.

Vice President, Leadership & Talent Development (Director of External Coaching)

Partnered with cross-functional teams to design and execute strategic, client-centric marketing initiatives that strengthened engagement, enhanced client experience, and supported revenue growth for national Asset Management and Real Estate accounts.

• Developed tailored marketing plans and campaigns to deepen client relationships and drive account expansion
• Created thought leadership content and sales enablement tools aligned with client needs and market trends
• Collaborated with senior stakeholders to align marketing strategy with business objectives and client outcomes

Marketing Strategist

Citi

Led complex client onboarding initiatives onto Citi’s global operations and technology platforms, generating $10K–$100K per client. Managed multi-phase implementations across 50+ markets, with a focus on custody services, fund services, alternative investments, investment analytics, securities lending, and cash services.

• Streamlined onboarding processes to enhance client experience and accelerate revenue realization

• Coordinated cross-functional teams across product, tech, and client service to ensure seamless integration

• Volunteered as a career coach, supporting early to mid-career women and ethnically diverse professionals through 1:1 coaching to advance their career goals

Vice President, Client Onboarding & Project Management

Managed and optimized the full proposal lifecycle (RFPs, RFIs, due diligence, client decks) for deals ranging from $100K to $100M across securities, fund, and cash services. Worked closely with global business leads to shape win strategies and position Citi’s value proposition.

• Led proposal strategy, solution mapping, and content creation under tight deadlines

• Supervised and mentored the on-site NYC team; co-developed training program for offshore resources

• Provided 1:1 coaching to diverse, high-potential talent as part of Citi’s career development initiatives

Vice President, Sales & Marketing

During a rigorous 9-month program, I successfully completed a real-world project for Citi. Collaborating in teams of four with unfamiliar colleagues, we tackled a challenging business problem in an unfamiliar domain. Our mission was to devise an innovative solution and present our findings to senior management. This comprehensive project encompassed all critical stages: discovery, research, analysis, planning, testing, evaluation, decision-making, design, statement of work, and a final presentation.

Vice President, Women's Council Developing Talent Program

In the initial months, I played a pivotal role in project management for the new reporting system, overseeing its transition from testing to live deployment. My daily responsibilities included delivering precise and timely investment performance data to Private Bank clients, utilizing the Modified Dietz method for diverse portfolios comprising equities, fixed income, alternatives, illiquid assets, and cash.

Assistant Vice President, Analytics and Reporting

Was the primary point of contact for over 20 diverse investment managers, expertly handling account management. My role involved promptly responding to inquiries, resolving issues, and providing comprehensive navigational assistance for Securities and Fund Services products and services.

Client Service Officer

Boutique Marketing Firm

Supported the owner of a small marketing firm with all responsibilities of the business.

Marketing Assistant

Binghamton University

Did various tasks in the store, from cashier to stocking shelves, helping students, etc.

Store Assistant

👋🏼 Hi, Hola, I’m Cecilia. A people-first strategist passionate about designing impactful talent solutions and cultivating thriving, inclusive workplaces.

I blend research, strategy & execution with bold thinking—all through a coaching mindset that centers people & drives results.

Whether I’m advising senior leaders, streamlining ops, bridging talent gaps, or translating vision into action—I bring curiosity, clarity, & a deep commitment to people and culture.

CORE STRENGTHS
• Leadership & Talent Development: Upskilled 𝟭,𝟬𝟬𝟬+ leaders—boosted productivity by 𝟮𝟬% and strengthened pipelines by 𝟮𝟱%.
• Org Effectiveness: Led HR strategy for 𝟯𝟱𝟬+ employees—streamlined hiring, raised retention (+𝟮𝟬%), and achieved 𝟵𝟬% internal promotions.
• People Strategy & Coaching: Used 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 to help leaders navigate change, foster inclusion, and scale results.
• Storytelling: Created compelling comms and presentations that turned 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻—driving 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

HOW I WORK
📌 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 leader with an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong bias for action
📌 Thrive in 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 environments where experimentation & agility matter
📌 Champion 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, collaboration, & continuous 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 to drive innovation and growth

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Built and led a consultancy focused on talent strategy, leadership development & coaching—impacting 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ leaders
• Leveraged 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 to scale impact, boost efficiency, & support smarter decisions
• Managed $𝟯𝗠+ in talent budgets, cutting costs by 𝟮𝟬% and driving $𝟯𝟴𝟬𝗠+ in new assets
• Improved operational efficiency by 𝟮𝟱% through streamlined processes and automation
• Held leadership roles at 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗣𝘄𝗖, & 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽—driving initiatives across talent, ops, & revenue teams

MORE ABOUT ME
🌎 Originally from Honduras. I moved to the U.S. at 16—a life-changing journey that taught me the power of resilience, adaptability, & diverse perspectives
🎯 Certified business coach and DISC & Motivators trainer
📚 Avid learner & generally curious
❤️ I love to bring laughter, joy, & creativity into everything I do

✨ My superpower? 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. I’ve worn many hats—advisor, builder, designer, coach, connector—and that blend of empathy, strategic thinking, & roll-up-your-sleeves execution is exactly what’s needed for the future of work.

🔹Let's Connect. I’d love to explore how I can help drive meaningful growth for your organization and its people.

Thank you Ashby and Anum Hussain for raising the bar on what a great job description looks like.

This job post is exceptionally well-written. 
It is clear, human, and narratively strong. 

It doesn’t just list tasks. 
It tells a story: Anum’s story. Which is what makes it so compelling. 
You learn about the role and the leader you’d be working with, and the vision you’d help bring to life.

It shows what the work feels like and why it matters. 
It’s conversational, authentic, and rooted in impact. 

A standout in a sea of templated, lifeless postings.

If more companies wrote job descriptions like this, candidates wouldn’t have to decode what “dynamic self-starter” really means.

One small thought for future roles: consider adding a short 30-60-90 day outline, a brief “In your first 90 days, here’s what success looks like…” section. It would make an already stellar JD even more powerful by showing not just who you want, but how you’ll set them up to thrive.

👏🏽 Bravo to teams that communicate with this level of clarity and care.

💃🏽Ceci H.

Content Lead, Talent Trends - Americas  

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