People leader · Writer · Poet
I'm Marissa, and at work people call me MD. I'm an executive people leader who believes a great manager can change how someone experiences work. I care about building cultures where people can do great work and still have the time and energy to live their lives. I write about work, leadership, family, identity, and the parts of life that don't fit neatly into a professional bio.
I write about
I started writing poetry back in 2019, just before finding out my wife was pregnant with our first child. Since then I've written two collections about growing up, coming out, falling in love, becoming a parent, and trying to hold onto the moments that matter.
Collection 01 · 2018
My first collection moves through childhood, coming out, falling in love with my wife, and learning to name who I was becoming.
Buy on AmazonCollection 02 · 2021
A collection for my son about infertility, becoming a parent, and the small moments I never wanted to forget.
Buy on AmazonOriginal cover artwork coming soon.
I lead Talent Success at Cribl. My team works across learning and development, people business partnership, employee experience, and culture.
I spend a lot of time thinking about what helps people do good work and what gets in the way. Most days, that means helping leaders make better decisions, helping teams navigate change, and paying attention to the gap between what a company says and what people actually experience.
Outside of work, I'm a wife, a mom, a poet, and proudly queer. I write because stories help us recognize ourselves in one another.
Read my full storyI write about leadership, parenthood, identity, and the moments that change how we see ourselves.
Pride + identity
A letter about entering the working world, finding my voice, and becoming who I needed when I was younger.
Read the storyLife + leadership
The story of my son's early arrival, and what it taught me about parenthood, work, and firsts.
Read the storyCareer + gratitude
A note about the people who saw something in me before I could see it myself.
Read the storySpeaking · Advising · Collaborating
I'm available for speaking, advising, and conversations about leadership, culture, and building better places to work. If that sounds useful, let's talk.
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