Available Q2 2027

DANIELLE
APPLESTONE

The rock. The heart.
The secret weapon.

Startup Executive: People Operations

A quick hello

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What I'm
looking for

I want to build a legendary company with people I admire and enjoy.

I'm looking for a full-time Chief People Officer or SVP People Operations role at a 50–100 person deeptech AI company — the nerdier the better — that needs to 10x in the next 3–4 years, following their Series B.

I aim to build a close relationship with a CEO who believes that their people and culture are as strategically critical as their technology.

Available to start Q2 2027.

Stage
Post Series B
Size
50–100 people
Sector
Deeptech AI
01
Exploring the uncharted

I love doing things I've never done before. I feel most inspired when my capacity to learn is fully utilized.

02
Unreasonable challenges

When people say "it's never been done before" or "that's going to be really hard," I double click.

03
Trusted relationships

I enjoy being a person that people call to talk through the toughest of decisions in their most vulnerable moments.

  • Fractional CPO to 30+ climate, biotech, and deep tech companies post-fundraise, scaling teams from seed through Series B.
  • Partnered with a CEO to re-found a Series A company — reshaping vision, mission, and business strategy — contributing directly to a $300M acquisition two years later.
  • Led a cultural shift at a 250-person company, including diagnosis, leadership alignment, and months of manager training.
  • Serial entrepreneur and co-founder across three industries; five years as a robotics manufacturing CEO raising $6.5M and taking the company through acquisition.
  • PhD, Materials Science & Engineering — UT Austin. S.B., Chemical Engineering — MIT. Varsity Crew Captain & MVP.

Full companies, dates, and key metrics are in the CV.

Ali Forsyth — CEO, Alloy Enterprises — acq. by Johnson Controls
Sam Calisch — CEO, Copper — Series A Hardtech Company
There's a ton of leadership analysis tools out there, but I like the Clifton Strengths Analysis best. I think it gives deeper insights that can be directly applied to working relationships. These are my top five.
1
Achiever
Executing

Relentless drive. A constant internal push toward accomplishment — and a deep satisfaction in hard, productive work.

2
Strategic
Strategic Thinking

Sees patterns where others see complexity. Quickly sorts through the noise to find the best path forward.

3
Arranger
Executing

Thrives in coordination and complexity. Loves figuring out how all the pieces and people can work together at their best.

4
Woo
Influencing

Wins others over. Loves the challenge of meeting someone new and finding the spark that creates connection.

5
Communication
Influencing

Brings ideas to life through words. Finds the right framing, story, or phrase to make things click for any audience.

After 20+ years of leading teams and working alongside CEOs in different industries, I've landed on a set of principles I keep coming back to.
Start here → yourself

Knowing yourself and connecting to yourself and your wants and needs is the first step to understanding others and building incredible relationships.

Conflict is a clue

It shows you where the misalignment and risk is. When done well, your relationships and work will get stronger.

Everything is an iteration

Always be learning and growing, and don't hang on too tightly to your ideas, successes, and failures.

Only make decisions that only you can make

Equip people with enough context to make good decisions without you. Default to asking questions and trusting.

Powerlifting

3/14/26 — 297.6 lbs

Music

My band released an album.

Unusual Richness — The Applestones

The Applestones is my band, and we released an album in 2026: Unusual Richness.

applestones.com