In her current role as Dir of People, Desiree serves as the acting Human Resources Lead for the ecosystem of boutique fitness studio concepts within the FitLab Studio Division. Providing strategic guidance, advisement, and consulting to Studio leaders, frontline managers, and a workforce of 200+ employees nationwide. She ensures that the collective organization scales with intent, strategy, and the employee experience in mind.
Before joining the FitLab organization, Desiree drove operational excellence and human capital management strategies for established 50+ employee multi-location small businesses in the greater Los Angeles area. She was responsible for defining company strategies and OKRs for compliance, general operations, talent management, external relations, DE&I, and NPS/Customer SAT. She anchored her strategic vision in creating a solid operational foundation that allows the company to scale/maintain a high growth rate while building a workplace that reflects the diverse communities it serves—successfully scaling a two-location startup to a four-location seven-figure business during a global pandemic while designing and executing an exit strategy in partnership with my executive board and founding CEO.
Desiree held multiple roles within Fortune 500 companies for 12 years before entering the boutique fitness space. Her breadth of knowledge and business acumen is comprehensive, with both thought and organization leadership experience in global operations, human capital management, business development, DEIB, technology, and outsourcing services at every leadership level.
Desiree is most passionate about personnel development and serving as a connection point for professionals at various career stages. She is an active PIHRA, SHRM, NHRA, and WIT member. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc and a Mentor for Baylor Build.
Desiree holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Baylor University, an MBA from Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business, and a Global Business Leadership certification from Beijing University of Posts & Telecom. She also played volleyball for the Baylor Bears from 2002 - 2006. Her motto, "be the positive change you wish to see in your organization".
