Vanessa is an accomplished executive HR leader with a proven track record of driving growth, optimizing global departments, and fostering high-performing teams. Recognized for her grit, impact, and care, she brings a unique blend of leadership qualities to her roles.
As the former Chief People and Culture Officer at BenchSci, Vanessa oversaw a team of over 40 people supporting 400+ remote employees across three countries. Her strategic focus centered on cultivating top performers, building strong team connections, and aligning them with the company’s mission. Under her leadership, BenchSci achieved remarkable growth, enhanced diversity hiring, increased engineering velocity, and improved employee engagement.
In addition to her role at BenchSci, Vanessa has held influential positions at leading companies such as AlayaCare and Shopify. At AlayaCare, she successfully restructured the People department and fueled the company’s growth from 200 to 500 employees through both organic expansion and acquisitions. Her contributions at Shopify included supporting the aggressive scaling of the business and overseeing significant organic growth in Montreal, as well as multiple international M&A transactions.
With an MBA and a Master’s in psychology, Vanessa combines business strategy with deep human insights to drive success. She now offers executive-level coaching services designed to unlock leadership potential, accelerate professional growth, and overcome obstacles. Her drive, experience, and passion position her as a catalyst for the growth and success of individuals and organizations alike.
