Investment Focus
Companies
Michelle is Playground’s People and Talent Operating Partner. She is a relationship-builder, learner, and leader with a passion for helping people and businesses unlock their potential. Her curiosity and insatiable desire to learn have been the driving forces behind her diverse and impactful career. As the former CEO of Mindstrong, a healthtech company she led through a successful acquisition in 2023, Michelle brings over 25 years of experience as a startup executive and hands-on operator. Her expertise spans SaaS, DTC tech, entertainment, and hardware, with a focus on operational excellence and people-centric leadership.
Michelle’s career is grounded in genuine connection. She thrives on building trust with founders, executives, and teams, seeing strengths where others might not, and helping individuals embrace and harness their potential. Her work consistently centers on aligning individual fulfillment with organizational success, ensuring that both people and businesses can thrive.
Michelle believes in the power of high expectations balanced with compassion. She is committed to bringing curiosity, creativity, and connection to every challenge and opportunity she encounters.
She lives in Menlo Park, CA with her husband Sean – also a founder, CEO, and tech nerd – and their two golden retrievers. Outside of work, you can catch her hiking the Dish, taking the dogs out for an adventure, or enjoying a good meal, good company, and great conversation.