With over 25 years of experience in talent acquisition and human resources, Michele Santoro serves as Managing Director and Chief People Officer at Oakleaf. Michele is passionate about cultivating a workplace culture that fosters growth, innovation, and collaboration. She has a proven track record of implementing strategic HR and TA initiatives that drive employee engagement and business success.

Prior to joining Oakleaf, Michele served as AARP’s Vice President of Talent Acquisition, leading the strategic direction of the TA function for the parent company and five of its affiliates. Past experiences include talent acquisition leadership roles in the hospitality and public accounting industries, executive search across multiple industry verticals, as well as serving as a consultant for two leading management consulting firms. Michele received the 2022 HR Leadership Award from DCA Live.

Michele holds a Master’s degree in Business from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.