Stephanie A. Masquelier is an accomplished human resources executive, organizational transformation leader, and strategic business partner with more than 20 years of experience cultivating high-performing teams, strengthening corporate cultures, and guiding organizations through meaningful change. Her career spans Fortune 500 corporations, high-growth businesses, consulting environments, and entrepreneurial ventures, providing her with a distinctive perspective on the relationship between people, operational excellence, and sustainable business success. Known for her collaborative leadership style, business acumen, and ability to navigate complex organizational challenges, Stephanie has consistently demonstrated that investing in people is fundamental to achieving lasting business results. Her professional philosophy centers on fostering inclusive environments where individuals are empowered to grow, organizations are equipped to evolve, and leadership decisions are guided by integrity, empathy, and strategic purpose.
Currently serving as Director of People & Culture at VICI, Stephanie brings extensive experience in talent management, organizational development, employee engagement, and business transformation to a dynamic retail and eCommerce environment. Her leadership journey with VICI began in 2023 as Senior Manager, Human Resources Business Partner, where she helped design and strengthen employee lifecycle processes while supporting the evolving needs of a rapidly growing organization. Her responsibilities included developing onboarding and performance management practices, strengthening internal communications, coaching emerging managers, and creating frameworks that balanced operational structure with organizational agility. Returning to VICI in April 2026 in a director-level leadership role, Stephanie continues her commitment to building people-centered organizations capable of adapting to changing business conditions while preserving strong workplace cultures.
Before assuming her current position, Stephanie served as Senior Human Resources Business Partner at Whole Foods Market from March 2024 through April 2026, expanding her leadership experience within the grocery and retail sector. This chapter of her career further diversified her understanding of people operations within established consumer-facing organizations. Combined with her extensive background in apparel retail and eCommerce, her experience at Whole Foods Market contributes to a broad industry perspective that encompasses workforce dynamics, organizational effectiveness, employee experience, and the importance of aligning human capital strategies with business objectives. Her ability to operate across different organizational environments reflects the adaptability and versatility that have become defining characteristics of her executive leadership.
A significant foundation of Stephanie’s professional accomplishments was established during her nearly twelve-year tenure at Gap Inc., where she held progressively responsible leadership positions across human resources, organizational effectiveness, employee benefits, and strategic operations. Working with internationally recognized retail brands, including Old Navy and Gap, she partnered with leaders across merchandising, design, marketing, production, and digital commerce to develop workforce strategies supporting approximately 400 employees. Her responsibilities extended beyond traditional human resources management to encompass organizational design, succession planning, talent development, workforce optimization, and enterprise change initiatives. She also managed a $16 million payroll budget, demonstrating her ability to integrate financial discipline with thoughtful workforce planning and strategic resource allocation.
Stephanie’s expertise in organizational transformation was particularly evident during her tenure as Human Resources Business Partner and Change Management Lead for Gap Inc.’s LEAN Team. In this capacity, she helped advance enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives designed to streamline operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen organizational performance. Her contributions supported efforts that identified approximately $500 million in potential savings through process optimization and continuous improvement strategies. Applying Lean Six Sigma principles, she developed training programs, facilitated organizational change, and helped introduce a continuous improvement mindset across a highly matrixed corporate environment. She also supported the consolidation of store operations teams across four brands into a unified Center of Excellence, reducing duplicated efforts and simplifying operational processes. These experiences reinforced her ability to connect strategic vision with practical execution while guiding diverse stakeholders through complex transitions.
Throughout her career, Stephanie has demonstrated a particular strength in change management, organizational design, and leadership development. As a designated change agent during a Workday implementation at Gap Inc., she helped reduce merchandising job descriptions and profiles by 60%, supporting organizational simplification and alignment with competitive market benchmarks. Her work has frequently required balancing business transformation with the human realities of organizational change, including employee relations, workforce restructuring, performance management, and leadership transitions. Drawing upon her Prosci ADKAR Change Management Certification, Lean Six Sigma training, and Co-Active coaching education, Stephanie approaches transformation with a combination of structured methodology, interpersonal sensitivity, and practical business judgment. She understands that successful organizational change depends not only on designing effective systems but also on earning trust, communicating clearly, and helping individuals embrace new ways of working.
Stephanie’s leadership impact extends into employee benefits, workforce engagement, and the development of scalable people programs. During her earlier roles at Gap Inc., she managed strategic initiatives involving employee benefits administration, regulatory compliance, vendor partnerships, and operational service delivery. Her work encompassed Affordable Care Act compliance, COBRA administration, annual open enrollment, and employee health and wellness initiatives. She helped develop benefit strategies and educational resources for a workforce of approximately 130,000 full-time and part-time employees, using surveys, stakeholder insights, and industry research to improve program awareness and utilization. Among her notable initiatives was the development of a telehealth strategy that introduced new benefit offerings, including kiosks at distribution centers. These efforts demonstrated her commitment to making complex programs more accessible, relevant, and valuable to employees.
Her dedication to talent advancement and inclusive leadership has been equally influential. While supporting approximately 3,000 associates across more than 100 stores in Gap’s Northwest field region, Stephanie developed a pilot enhancement to the This Way Ahead internship mentoring program, contributing to a 25% increase in retention and full-time placement. She also facilitated talent development workshops for field leaders, strengthening leadership accountability and employee engagement. As Co-Chair of Women@GapInc., an employee community focused on equality and belonging, she helped champion opportunities for connection, professional development, and workplace inclusion. These experiences illustrate her belief that effective leadership requires both strategic accountability and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.
Before establishing her extensive corporate leadership career, Stephanie developed a strong entrepreneurial foundation as the founder and owner of FLOURS, a custom wedding cake business in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her venture combined culinary creativity, business development, customer relationship management, and operational execution. She built a competitive boutique business distinguished by personalized service, innovative flavors, and strong vendor relationships. Her work received recognition in bridal and lifestyle publications, including Martha Stewart, Today’s Bride, Brides Northern California, SF Bride, and Daily Candy. Her culinary background also included experience with respected establishments such as Tartine Bakery, Miette Cakes, and The Ritz-Carlton. This entrepreneurial chapter provided Stephanie with firsthand experience in brand differentiation, customer expectations, financial responsibility, and the determination required to build a business from the ground up. It continues to inform her practical understanding of the challenges faced by business owners and growing enterprises.
Stephanie’s professional foundation also includes experience as a Human Capital Management Consultant with IBM, formerly PwC Consulting, where she gained exposure to advisory work and organizational challenges in corporate environments. Her combination of consulting, entrepreneurial, and executive human resources experience enables her to evaluate business issues from multiple perspectives. Whether advising leadership teams, designing workforce strategies, or implementing enterprise initiatives, she brings an understanding of how organizational structure, employee capability, operational processes, and corporate culture intersect. Her approach is distinguished by an ability to translate complex business priorities into actionable people strategies that support performance, resilience, and long-term organizational health.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Stephanie has demonstrated a sustained commitment to community leadership, education, and youth development. She served as a board member of the Oakland Babe Ruth Cal Ripken Baseball League from 2018 to 2022, contributing to community outreach initiatives supporting youth sports. She has also served in leadership roles with The Renaissance International School’s Parents Association, including Co-President and Committee Chair, and has volunteered with organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Girls Inc. These experiences reflect her commitment to service, relationship building, and creating opportunities for young people and families. Her community involvement also provides a meaningful foundation for future nonprofit governance and advisory responsibilities.
Stephanie’s academic and professional development reflects her dedication to continuous learning and interdisciplinary thinking. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, an educational experience aligned with her broad professional interests and multifaceted career. She pursued change management education through the University of California, Berkeley, and holds a Prosci ADKAR Change Management Certification. Her additional training includes Lean Six Sigma, Co-Active coaching fundamentals through the Coaches Training Institute, and a Pastry Diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. Her international educational experience and interests in the arts, museums, and culinary culture contribute to the curiosity, creativity, and openness that characterize her personal and professional outlook. Her accomplishments have also been recognized through two Gap Inc. Exceed Awards, and she has participated as a guest speaker at Towers Watson’s Annual Employee Health Care Conference in partnership with American Well.
As Stephanie looks toward expanding her contribution through board and advisory service, she brings a compelling combination of corporate leadership, operational expertise, change management proficiency, entrepreneurial insight, and community involvement. Her areas of interest include retail, apparel, grocery, nonprofit organizations, and culinary enterprises, although her transferable expertise is relevant to organizations across a wide range of industries and stages of growth. She is particularly well positioned to contribute perspectives on human capital strategy, leadership succession, organizational transformation, employee engagement, corporate culture, and operational effectiveness. Her experience partnering with senior executives, navigating complex business decisions, and implementing initiatives across diverse stakeholder groups provides a strong foundation for thoughtful governance and strategic advisory participation.
For Stephanie, pursuing board service represents a natural evolution in a career defined by growth, adaptability, and a commitment to making meaningful contributions. She views this next chapter as an opportunity to share the knowledge accumulated throughout her professional journey while embracing new challenges, broadening her perspective, and supporting organizations in achieving their missions. Guided by a belief in continuous development and the value of stepping beyond one’s comfort zone, she brings both the confidence of an experienced leader and the curiosity of a lifelong learner. Her professional legacy is rooted in the conviction that organizations achieve their greatest potential when strong strategy, empowered people, and purposeful leadership work together.
Character:
Stephanie exemplifies integrity, empathy, and accountability through her commitment to building inclusive workplaces, supporting employee development, and contributing to community organizations. Her collaborative leadership philosophy reflects a genuine respect for individuals and a belief that trust, fairness, and service are essential foundations for sustainable organizational success.
Knowledge:
Brings more than two decades of multidisciplinary expertise spanning human resources, organizational development, change management, retail operations, employee benefits, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Her professional certifications, executive leadership experience, and exposure to Fortune 500 and high-growth environments provide her with a comprehensive understanding of the human and operational factors that influence business performance.
Strategic:
Stephanie demonstrates strategic leadership through her ability to align workforce priorities with organizational objectives, optimize business processes, and guide complex transformation initiatives. Her contributions to enterprise-wide cost improvement, organizational restructuring, talent development, and scalable employee programs reflect an ability to balance immediate operational needs with long-term business sustainability.
Communication:
An accomplished communicator who builds credibility through transparency, active listening, collaborative problem-solving, and effective engagement with stakeholders at every organizational level. Her experience facilitating leadership workshops, coaching managers, delivering internal presentations, and participating in industry speaking engagements demonstrates her ability to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable messages that inspire alignment and progress.
