Nicci Arsenault
Startup Career Coach | Get Hired, Get Promoted & Get Paid
Studied at Michigan State University
Hiring Manager at GitHub
Available tomorrow
Starting at 4:00 PM UTC
I'm excited to join Leland and take on new clients inside and outside my industry. I have flexibility at this time so if you need time that is outside my normal blocks please message me and let's see if we can figure it out. Here to help!
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Nicci's Offerings
Custom hourly · $200/hr
Get help with Competitive Analysis, Interview Prep, and .
Nicci also coaches for Human Resources and Executive Coaching. View all.
Nicci’s Startup Careers Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Vice President
I’ve spent much of my career working inside high-growth startups and technology companies, from early-stage teams through hypergrowth, acquisitions, and global expansion. I’ve been the first or senior People leader at multiple startups, partnered directly with founders and executive teams, and experienced firsthand the ambiguity, rapid change, and career opportunities that come with startup environments. I can help clients navigate the realities of startup careers—from deciding whether a startup is the right fit, evaluating offers and equity, positioning themselves for their next role, building relationships with founders and executives, and figuring out how to stand out and grow when there isn’t a traditional career ladder. My coaching comes from having been both the person making hiring and promotion decisions and the person helping employees navigate them.
Nicci can help with:
Competitive Analysis
Interview Prep
Networking Strategy
Resume Review
Nicci also coaches for Human Resources and Executive Coaching. View all.
About Nicci
I’ve spent the last 15+ years building my career at some of the fastest-growing technology companies, from Facebook and GitHub to startups like Cribl, Replicate, and ElevenLabs. I’ve grown from an HR business partner into a Chief People Officer and Head of People, leading through hypergrowth, organizational change, acquisitions, global expansion, and all of the messy people challenges that come with them. I’m a pretty no-BS coach. I’ll give you honest feedback, help you see what you might be missing, and push you when I think you’re playing too small. I’m not interested in giving you generic advice that sounds good but doesn’t actually change anything. There's room for all of us at the top and if I can help you win - it feels like I'm winning too.
Why do I coach?
What I love most about coaching is seeing someone win because of the work we did together. When a friend comes back and tells me they negotiated thousands more in compensation, landed the role they really wanted, got promoted, or finally had the confidence to advocate for themselves—that feels like my success too. I bring that same investment to every coaching relationship. I’ll give you the perspective, tools, and real-world experience I’ve gained over my career, but more importantly, I’ll help you turn that into action. Your success really is my success.
Work Experience
People & Talent Consultant
ElevenLabs
April 2026 - July 2026
Hiring Manager
Led People & Talent for a record breaking quarter: 219 hires Transformed workforce planning into more scalable process Iterated on Total Rewards structure for over 50 countries Grew both the People & Talent teams for longer term success Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Talent Planning
Chief People Officer
Replicate
February 2025 - April 2026
Hiring Manager
At Replicate, I played a pivotal role in scaling a distributed team during a critical growth phase, culminating in our acquisition by Cloudflare. My focus was on leading the people side of the M&A process, ensuring a seamless transition for employees into their new roles while fostering continued success within the organization. https://blog.cloudflare.com/why-replicate-joining-cloudflare/ Artificial Intelligence (AI), Strategic Partnerships and +2 skills
Chief People Officer
Pagoda
November 2023 - March 2025
Hiring Manager
I spearheaded the development and implementation of a comprehensive job architecture and compensation structure across 20+ countries, which led to more sustainable salary practices and a 25% reduction in regrettable attrition. I also introduced a DE&I practice, launching Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and hosting external advisory workshops. Additionally, I created Pagoda's first talent branding initiatives, including a revamped careers page and LinkedIn Life page, boosting our visibility. I also ensured compliance with international employment laws and tax regulations across multiple jurisdictions. I also managed the winding down of the company, overseeing offboarding, international separations, and the smooth, compliant transition of remaining employees. Compensation & Benefits, Total Rewards Strategies and +2 skills
Member
Chief
June 2023 - April 2026
A private network that connects and supports the most powerful women executives to strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence, and pave the way to bring others with them.
VP People
Pagoda
August 2022 - November 2023
I pioneered a total rewards system that combined tokens, bonuses, and base salary tailored for the Web3 environment, which influenced attracting candidates from traditional tech companies with a unique and competitive compensation package. I also improved our offer acceptance rate from 75% to 81% while reducing the time to hire by 34%, streamlining recruitment in a competitive market. Strategic Partnerships, Coaching and +4 skills
Director, People Business Partners
Cribl
August 2021 - August 2022
Hiring Manager
I built and led a team of 3 HR Business Partners, expanding the company from 75 to over 300 employees across eight countries in just one year. I transitioned the company to a scalable HRIS, boosting operational efficiency by 15% while supporting rapid growth without adding technical debt. I also designed and implemented a performance and rewards program that increased employee performance and improved retention by 25% across both U.S. and international teams. Business Partner Support, Total Rewards Strategies and +4 skills
Senior Human Resources Business Partner
GitHub
July 2014 - April 2021
Hiring Manager
At GitHub, I played a strategic role in growing the global workforce from 200 to 3,000 employees. I developed a scalable HR infrastructure that included a leveling framework, total rewards system, and policies to support the company’s global expansion, ensuring smooth growth and alignment across regions.
Talent Development Specialist
Meta
January 2009 - November 2013
Interviewer
I led an engineering program that onboarded and assigned hundreds of engineers and interns each month, supporting the company’s rapid growth and technical innovation. I established and expanded the Vancouver Engineering office from the ground up to a team of over 100. Additionally, I created and launched the Dublin Engineering Bootcamp, an initiative that accelerated new engineers' integration and increased productivity.
Education
Michigan State University
Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communication/Media Studies
2004 - 2007