About Mara
An Experienced People Executive. A Trusted Business Partner. A Human Being First.
A Career Built Around Transformation
For more than 25 years, I've sat at the executive table helping organizations navigate growth, transformation, organizational change, leadership challenges, and the very human complexities that come with running a business.
I've served as a Chief People Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Vice President, and Senior Director of People & Culture.
I've worked across global companies, entrepreneurial businesses, employee-owned organizations, nonprofits, B Corps, and purpose-driven organizations.
My experience spans industries as varied as fashion, beauty and fragrance, luxury consumer products, film, theater and television, sustainability, handcrafted production, high-tech manufacturing, biotech, professional services, construction, and engineering.
What those experiences have taught me is simple: There is rarely a single HR answer.
Sometimes the answer is a new organizational structure. Sometimes it's a better leader. Sometimes it's a compensation system that finally makes sense. Sometimes it's rebuilding trust.
And sometimes it's simply having an experienced person in the room who can see the situation clearly and help the leadership team decide what to do next.
That's the role I play as a Fractional Chief People Officer.
My Leadership Philosophy
Strategic
I think beyond the immediate HR issue to understand what the business is trying to accomplish and what people strategy will help get it there.
Hands-On
Strategy only matters if it becomes action. I'm comfortable getting into the details, building the framework, leading the project, coaching the team, and doing the work.
Human-Centered
Organizations are made up of people. I believe you can make difficult business decisions while treating people with dignity, empathy, and respect.
A CAREER ACROSS DIFFERENT KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS
My career has included leadership roles with organizations such as The Estée Lauder Companies, Firmenich, Resource Systems Group, Simon Pearce, PC Construction, Chroma Technology Corp, and Textile Exchange.
That breadth allows me to quickly understand different business models, cultures, leadership teams, and organizational challenges and determine what the organization and its people need next.
Building Organizations Where People Want to Work
I've helped organizations earn recognition as great places to work, but I've never believed that great culture is about perks or a beautifully written values statement.
It's about whether people trust their leaders.
Whether they understand the purpose.
Whether they have opportunities to grow.
Whether accountability is real.
And whether they want to stay.
That's the kind of organization I know how to help build.
Credentials
25+ years executive People & Culture leadership
MS, Human Resources Management — The New School
BA, Communications — Queens College, CUNY
SHRM-SCP — Senior Certified Professional, Society for Human Resource Management
2020 Vermont Human Resources Professional of the Year
Past Board Chair, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR)
Past State Council Director/President, SHRM Vermont State Council
Speaker, facilitator, and panelist on leadership, culture, employee ownership, equity, and the future of work.
Click the PDF for full resume:
Let's Talk
If your organization is at an inflection point, or you simply need experienced People leadership at the table, I'd welcome a conversation.
Mara Rae Rivera, MS, SHRM-SCP
Fractional Chief People Officer
Mara Rae Consulting
mara@mararaeconsulting.com
802.299.7900
