Experience
Explore Marymichele’s professional experience, leadership journey, and the organizations that have shaped her perspective. Visit her LinkedIn to view her career and professional background.
Beyond her executive leadership in higher education HR, Marymichele has contributed her experience through service on several boards of directors, including as former Board President of the Southern New England College and University Professional Association, as well as board service with edHEALTH and All-Paths Family Planning. These experiences have broadened her perspective on governance, organizational leadership, and the unique opportunities and challenges facing mission-driven organizations.
How People Describe Her
Meet the Founder
Marymichele brings years of progressive HR leadership experience, including Vice President and executive-level HR leadership, to the challenges organizations are navigating today.
Her career spans leadership roles across Harvard University, the College of the Holy Cross, Wellesley College, Lasell University, and Tufts University, giving her a deep understanding of complex higher education and mission-driven organizations and the realities facing leaders.
As a Vice President and senior HR executive, Marymichele has led across the breadth of the HR function, partnering with presidents, senior leaders, and governing bodies on consequential people and organizational decisions. Her experience includes organizational and workforce strategy, leadership and talent development, employee and labor relations, total rewards, employee experience, HR operations and technology, and organizational change management.
That experience shapes every engagement. Delaney & Partners works closely with a small group of experts to bring the fresh perspective of outside advisors that have the judgment and practical experience of executives who have led the work from within, helping leaders navigate complexity, make thoughtful decisions, and turn strategy into meaningful action.
How She Leads
Through developmental assessments, people are able to understand their leadership style and work preferences. Marymichele’s assessment data below has been key to optimizing her self-awareness, so that she brings her best self to the work environment. Marymichele brings that same philosophy to her work with leaders and teams, using tools such as CliftonStrengths and MBTI to build self-awareness, strengthen communication, and more effective teams. Learn more about assessment and development offerings here.
CliftonStrengths - how she contributes her strengths
These strengths reflect how she approaches much of her work: understanding what makes people and organizations unique, moving ideas into action, and leveraging possibilities.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator - how she engages, communicates, and makes decisions
As an ENFJ, Marymichele leads through relationships, communication, and influence, bringing people together around a shared purpose while connecting the human side of change with organizational priorities.
Marymichele’s certifications include: Certified Executive Coach, Center for Executive Coaching, Certified Mediator, Conflict Management Institute / SHRM, The Science of Leadership, Harvard Medical School, Negotiation Mastery, Harvard Business School, Power & Influence for Positive Impact, Harvard Business School
Predictive Index - how she approaches challenges and drives results
Marymichele’s Individualist profile reflects how she approaches complex challenges: thinking strategically, exploring new possibilities, and tailoring solutions to the unique needs, culture, and priorities of each organization with a focus on results.
Her Favorite Reads & Listens
Books
Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, and Together is Better — Simon Sinek
The Brain Warrior’s Way: Ignite Your Energy and Focus, Attack Illness and Aging, Transform Pain into Purpose — Daniel G. Amen, M.D. and Tana Amen
Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success and Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things— Adam Grant
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. — Brené Brown
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful — Marshall Goldsmith with Mark Reiter
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change — Stephen R. Covey
The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work — Shawn Achor
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable — Patrick Lencioni
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact — Chip Heath and Dan Heath
ReCulturing: Design Your Company Culture to Connect with Strategy and Purpose for Lasting Success — Melissa Daimler
Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family — Bob Chapman and Raj Sisodia
Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success — Gary Vaynerchuk
The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever — Michael Bungay Stanier
The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed — Adam Bryant
Pay Matters: The Art and Science of Employee Compensation — David Weaver
The Last Lecture — Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth — Amy C. Edmondson
StrengthsFinder 2.0 — Tom Rath
Podcasts
Good Life Project — Jonathan Fields
10% Happier with Dan Harris — Dan Harris
Re:Thinking — Adam Grant
A Bit of Optimism — Simon Sinek
The Curiosity Shop — Brené Brown & Adam Grant
The Mel Robbins Podcast — Mel Robbins
People + Strategy — SHRM Executive Network
All Things Work — SHRM
Up Next
Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI — Karen Hao
Gigatrends: Six Forces That Are Changing the Future for Billions — Thomas Koulopoulos and Nathaniel Palmer
AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order — Kai-Fu Lee