Skills
About
What if HR was the reason your business outpaced the competition? That’s the lens I bring to every engagement—as founder of Polaris Pathways and a former global HR executive who’s helped companies scale fast, lead through change, and actually enjoy building teams that work. I’ve led HR through hypergrowth, coached hundreds of leaders, and built people functions from scratch—across startups, global orgs, and everything in between. I’ve introduced HR tech that changed how companies operate, helped organizations land on Best Places to Work lists, and guided teams through mergers, acquisitions, and everything that comes after. I partner with HR and executive leaders to build high-impact people strategies that drive growth, not just compliance. Whether you need a steady hand during rapid change, executive coaching for an emerging HR leader, or a strategic advisor who knows how to build trust at the C-level—I bring clarity, action, and results. My sweet spot? Helping HR step up as a business force multiplier. Let’s stop talking about “earning a seat at the table” and start driving the conversation.
Michelle Arieta
Published content
article
As more states require salary ranges in job postings, companies face a new set of compliance and communication challenges. HR leaders from Senior Executive’s HR Think Tank explain how to turn transparency into a talent strategy.
Company details
Polaris Pathways
Company bio
Polaris Pathways helps growing companies get unstuck when the people side becomes a bottleneck. We work across both HR and executive teams to build clarity, momentum, and scalable people practices—without overengineering. Our maturity assessments surface what’s working (and what’s not), and we stay hands-on to help companies move forward. Sometimes, that looks like stepping in as a fractional HR leader. Other times, it’s upleveling a strong talent partner into a more strategic role. Whatever the mix, we bring structure, judgment, and a deep understanding of how people and business goals actually intersect.