Michelle Engel | Chief People Officer, [solidcore]
A conversation with Michelle Engel, Chief People Officer at [solidcore], on creating psychological safety at work, cultivating cultures where women can lead without shrinking, and making belonging, emotional wellbeing, and human connection essential.
What helped you move from feeling like you needed to have all the answers before speaking up to trusting that your perspective belonged in the room?
Earlier in my career, I often remained silent in rooms where I was the youngest, the least experienced or the only female. I don't recall anyone specifically telling me not to speak up but I struggled with my own desire to know something or be 100% sure before I spoke up. I worried about my credibility and not wanting to come across as not smart enough to be in my role and in the room. For me this was about my own personal confidence and belief in myself. It took leaders and mentors around me to begin to break through this feeling whether it was believing in me to let me work on the project and make mistakes along the way. It also took me talking to myself a bit differently - more positively. Sometimes I am my own toughest critic and I needed to tone that voice down to take chances to be successful. This has helped but still not always the easiest on myself. Work in progress and progress everyday.
How has psychological safety influenced both the organizations you've chosen to be part of and the kind of culture you strive to create as a leader?
For me, it has been about organizational culture and building interpersonal relationships. I have chosen to work for organizations where the culture aligns with a representation of all voices and as a leader, I try to give that space for others. If I don't feel I will have a voice, I have chosen to not join an organization. In addition, when I join organizations, I have worked really hard to build and maintain personal relationships with my leaders, my peers and my employees. This has created an environment where psychological safety exists and I am able to be vulnerable.
Can you share a time when someone's belief in you helped you reconnect with your own confidence as a leader?
My last boss. I was in a space where my initial confidence felt low in a role where I had proven myself and at moments didn't feel valued. He provided me a platform, positive affirmations and space to be the leader he knew I was. He deferred to my knowledge in moments, He offered compliments/feedback and he offered support as I navigated challenging situations. I felt he had my back and this was important in the moment. I am grateful to him and will always consider him a mentor in my leadership journey.
What has it meant to have someone alongside you who creates space for both your vulnerability and your ambition—and encourages you to advocate for yourself along the way?
I feel this with my husband especially as our relationship has endured many years and life changes together. He is my sounding board, my calm when I feel unbalanced and when needed, he will provide advice (sometimes I am not ready for). He encourages me to speak up, to advocate for myself and he appreciates who I am at both home and work. I am immensely blessed to navigate this life with him.
As you've grown into your own voice and leadership, what responsibility do you feel to help other women recognize their value and take up space without shrinking?
I want other women to recognize their personal value - at work and in life as so often we give so much of ourselves and don't always feel we have the platform to speak. As a leader, I have a responsibility to be available and be a positive influence on the culture of the rooms I am in. And I want to be a role model for my daughters so they don't go into the work world and shrink but flourish.
“I want other women to recognize their personal value - at work and in life as so often we give so much of ourselves and don’t always feel we have the platform to speak. ”
About Michelle
Michelle is the current Chief People Officer at [solidcore], where she leads the People function with a focus on culture, connection, and creating an exceptional employee experience. Michelle’s career spans over 25+ years in high-growth environments in healthcare, behavioral health, and technology, including leadership roles at Clarvida, Evolent Health and AOL.
Throughout her career, Michelle has worked across all areas of HR — from talent attraction and leadership development to compensation, benefits, and M&A. She has scaled and transformed People functions, integrating talent acquisition, DE&I, total rewards, leadership development, and HR operations, into cohesive strategies that drive both culture and performance. She has a track record of modernizing HR technology, implementing cost-effective benefits programs, and fostering inclusive workplaces rooted in empathy, accountability, and collaboration.
She holds a B.A. in Psychology and English from Lehigh University, is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s executive program for HR leaders, and is a Certified Professional and Executive Coach through iPEC.
Connect Further
Website: https://www.solidcore.co/ | LinkedIn: Michelle Pealer Engel