Celeste Thompson is a seasoned HR executive and chief people officer with 30 years of experience driving organizational transformation, talent strategy, and cultural engagement across technology, nonprofit, and fashion industries. As a strategic leader, she specializes in organizational development, workforce planning, and executive coaching, ensuring that businesses optimize their human capital for growth, efficiency, and long-term success.
Celeste’s career is defined by her ability to align HR strategies with business objectives, leading large-scale organizational change, M&A integration, and HR digital transformation. She has successfully designed and implemented HR roadmaps for mid-sized and small businesses, transforming their approach to talent acquisition, DEI strategy, and leadership development. With international experience spanning the U.K., Brazil, India, Australia, and the Asia-Pacific region, Celeste brings a global perspective to human resource leadership.
Currently, Celeste is the founder and chief people officer of Tribe Human Resources HR + IT Consulting, where she partners with C-suite executives to build high-performing HR infrastructures, enhance employee engagement, and drive strategic workforce planning. She has worked across retail, beauty, technology, healthcare, and financial services, helping organizations modernize HR processes, optimize talent pipelines, and implement digital HR solutions.
Previously, Celeste served as vice president of people at SoulCycle, where she led HR for 1,800 employees across 63 locations in the U.S. and U.K. She successfully rebuilt HR infrastructure, achieving a 20% increase in operational efficiency, and launched a learning and development framework, improving leadership engagement by 30%. She also developed the DEIB ambassador model, aligning DEI efforts with business objectives, which resulted in a 15% improvement in employee retention.
As vice president of human resources at The Body Shop North America, Celeste provided strategic HR leadership for 3,000 employees, spearheading restructuring initiatives that led to $500K in cost savings. Her contributions included designing a globally adopted onboarding program, reducing time-to-productivity by 25%, and enhancing belonging and inclusion strategies that increased employee engagement by 15%.
Celeste also spent over a decade at Eileen Fisher, Inc., holding leadership roles in HR and talent acquisition. During her tenure, she successfully reduced talent acquisition costs by $2M, increased internal promotions by 25%, and scaled workforce by 50%, ensuring sustainable growth while maintaining quality. Her succession planning and leadership development programs contributed to a 20% improvement in retention, demonstrating her ability to cultivate a strong, engaged workforce.
A respected advisor and thought leader, Celeste has spoken on Project 25 and its impact on HR strategy and leadership. She is actively involved in board service, serving on SHARE (Cancer Support Organization) for eight years and as an advisory board member for SEEDS Scholars. Additionally, she is an active participant in governance communities for nonprofit professionals and holds memberships in Titans Executive Network (Founding Member), and Chief – both executive women’s leadership organizations.
Celeste holds a bachelor of business administration from St. Thomas University and several advanced HR certifications, including the SHRM-SCP (Senior Professional Certification), a diversity & inclusion professional certificate from Cornell ILR, and a strategic workforce planning certificate from the Human Capital Institute (HCI). She is highly proficient in HR technologies, with expertise in Workday, ADP, SAP, UKG, Greenhouse, Lever, and various AI-powered HR tools.
Beyond her professional expertise, Celeste has a passion for interior design and art history, pursuits that reflect her creativity and eye for innovation. Her personal mission statement—”Set your life on fire and keep those who stay in your flame.”—captures her commitment to driving change, inspiring leadership, and building strong, purpose-driven organizations.
Celeste is now seeking board service opportunities where she can leverage her extensive HR knowledge, leadership insights, and problem-solving expertise. With a track record of driving transformational change, she is an ideal candidate for organizations seeking guidance on talent strategy, DEI implementation, and HR innovation.
Character: Celeste Thompson is a principled and dynamic leader who prioritizes integrity, inclusivity, and people-first leadership in every aspect of her work.
Knowledge: With 30 years of experience in human resources, Celeste possesses deep expertise in organizational development, talent strategy, DEI implementation, and HR technology transformation.
Strategic: She excels at aligning HR initiatives with business objectives, leading large-scale organizational change, and optimizing workforce planning to drive long-term growth and efficiency.
Communication: A skilled executive coach and advisor, Celeste effectively collaborates with leadership teams, delivers impactful presentations, and fosters engagement through clear, strategic communication.
