Ellysa S.

About Ellysa S.

I became intrigued and curious about cultivating the employee experience (EX). Throughout my HR work I noticed something missing in leadership training and development. I personally had a poor leader (more than one over my career too) who relied on fear instead of love to drive culture, limiting my own potential and creating disengagement. Coaching gives me space to create and produce Lightkeeper Leaders!I am technically skilled in all facets of HR. I serve as a small business owner offering Leadership Coaching and HR fractional services. I am committed to delivering authenticity to an organization through continuous engagement. I lead with boldness and have my own unique leadership style. My intention is to focus on supporting our nonprofit sector given that they are underserved and underrepresented in the HR industry. I also serve as the HR Business Partner in the nonprofit sector for a health system. I supported a financial institution as their DOO. I also supported another ed-med nonprofit in Cary and completed a client project for executive consulting in a nonprofit locally as well.I now serve as Chief Human at CuraHuman to Coach Human. CuraHuman is about cultivating and caring for your whole human, especially at work. I identify as a Choiceness Coach to empower each leader to reach their full potential. I am a Maverick Curator Engagement Lightkeeper of Exquisite Beings with a purpose to develop workforce engagement culture. I am a Certified Leader Coach.I completed my M.ofSc. at NYU in HRM with a 3.98 GPA in the top 10% for the graduating class. My self-care is personal professional development and volunteering. I serve three BODs: Exec Vice Chair at Disability Rights of North Carolina supporting disability inclusion, Workforce Development Director at RMSHRM, and Board Member at Piedmont Health Services. I’m a JFF SHRM Talent of Tomorrow Fellow graduate. I’m honing my craft as a fractional CHRO. In June 2022 I became SHRM-SCP certified as a strategic partner. Triangle East Chamber of Commerce nominated me for the 2022 Emerging Leader Award and nominated me in 2023 for the ATHENA Award. CuraHuman also had a nomination as a finalist for the Spark Awards 2024. In 2025, I became a Goodmon Fellow graduate of Leadership Triangle. Business NC named me a 40 under 40 Trailblazer. Let’s collaborate to cure your human!If you are looking for a trusting, innovative, and adaptable directionally engaging HR leader, please contact me at c••••••••@gmail.com. Our website is CuraHuman.co Visit my E-Portfolio landing page at https://wp.nyu.edu/ellysasmith/

Experience

1. Pro Bono Consultant

   North Carolina Center For Nonprofits

   Jan 2024 — Present · Raleigh, NC, US

   As a pro bono volunteer, Coaching The Center and the International Coach Federation recognize that coaching is the quickest way to get unstuck, recognizing strengths, and take forward-moving action. Through this partnership, coaches share their time and talents for up to five hours of free coaching assistance to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations and their staff. Human resources is a necessary part of every field of work. Nonprofits cannot afford to go without access to the information they need to get the job done. Our partnership with Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Association provides a two-fold benefit. Nonprofits receive assistance while professionals have the opportunity to volunteer in a satisfying, manageable way of one hour of free assistance to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.As a sample of the clients we have served they include:*AIDS Leadership Foothills-area Alliance: Consultation with leadership to define exempt and exempt employees on the handbook and compensable time.*Union County Community Arts Council: Consultation with Executive Director for organizational reorganization with a severance package.

Education

• NYU School of Professional Studies

  Master of Science - MS with Honors Distinction, Human Resource Management and Development

• The Scholars' Academy

  High School, Regents Diploma with Honors

• Fordham University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, General Science with Philosophy Minor

• Fordham University

  Executive Education Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership, Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

  2017 — 2017