Michelle Merritt
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) @D&s Executive Career Management
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WORK HISTORY
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) @D&s Executive Career Management
As Chief Strategy Officer at D&S Executive Career Management, I lead people strategy, talent programming, and organizational development for a firm serving C-suite and senior leaders across industries. I direct a team of 15 executive coaches and talent practitioners delivering leadership advancement, career strategy, and organizational effectiveness solutions at the highest level. What I focus on- Architecting enterprise talent development programs, coaching frameworks, and learning curricula that build leadership pipeline strength and drive measurable organizational outcomes- Scaling cohort-based executive development models and a 250+ member talent network that extend impact beyond individual engagements-Advising senior leaders on complex career transitions, board readiness, and executive compensation strategy at the C-suite level- Integrating AI across talent development and organizational learning to build competitive capability and keep our work at the leading edge of executive development- Designing and delivering curriculum for national associations and corporate audiences on talent strategy, leadership development, and board governance Thought Leadership: Publisher of The Talent Advantage, a weekly LinkedIn newsletter on executive talent strategy and the future of work. Co-author of Empathy Impact: The Wild Effects of Kindness in Action (Amazon #1 Bestseller). Spotlight Speaker, SHRM Talent 2026.
EDUCATION
Richland Community College
Undergraduate Business Coursework
Leadership Fort Wayne
Graduate
The Disney Institute
Graduate
Loyola University of Chicago
Certificate
SKILLS
ABOUT MICHELLE MERRITT
I lead organizations in turning executive talent into a competitive advantage. As a senior talent, HR, and people executive, I build the leadership infrastructure that drives retention, accelerates time-to-contribution, and compounds organizational value. I work at the intersection of executive development, culture, and strategy, bringing a practitioner\'s depth from coaching C-suite and senior leaders through the most complex transitions of their careers. What I do- Design and scale enterprise talent ecosystems, including coaching frameworks, learning architectures, succession planning, and high-potential programs that outlast any single initiative - Build coaching cultures from the inside out, reducing costly leadership turnover and shortening time-to-contribution for incoming executives - Guide senior leaders through complex career transitions, compensation negotiation, and board readiness at the highest level - Translate talent strategy into measurable business outcomes, including revenue growth, organizational expansion, and leadership pipeline strength - Advise boards and executive teams on talent risk, people strategy, and the governance frameworks that protect organizational performance Selected Highlights- Founded Circle City Coaching and led a strategic merger with D&S Executive Career Management, driving 2x revenue growth through full model repositioning and organizational integration - Designed and governed enterprise-wide talent development for a 400+ employee organization, coaching 38 department heads and delivering programming replicated across the country - Built and scaled a 250+ member executive talent network through cohort-based leadership development, driving 20% program growth through demonstrated impact - Launched a high-touch senior leader development program that drove 70%+ growth in participation and outcomes within the first year - Appointed President, Westfield Police Department Merit Commission, designing talent selection, promotion, and performance frameworks for a 100-member department serving citizens - Board Director across 30+ board and committee roles, including fiduciary oversight of nearly $1B in assets - Co-author of Empathy Impact: The Wild Effects of Kindness in Action (Amazon #1 Bestseller)- Publisher of The Talent Advantage, a weekly LinkedIn newsletter on executive talent strategy, leadership development, and the future of work
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