In a company focused on its human-centeredness in all things, it’s imperative that the head of human resources leads from a people-first perspective. Coforma’s newly-appointed VP of PeopleOps, Ellie Saeta, believes that care and compliance can coexist, and that culture is built through everyday moments when people feel seen, heard, and valued.
“I am guided by the idea that you can always institute compliance with care,” she says. “So much of my role is supporting the business and providing operational guidance, but there is always a way to do so that keeps our employees at the center. I keep them front-of-mind by considering the impact of decisions, rolling out programs that support all who work here, and writing policies with the individuals most affected in mind.”
This approach has been especially important this year. In recent months, companies across the civic tech sector have contended with uncertainty, changing federal priorities, and anxiety. Ellie has seen us through this tumultuous time with clarity, steadiness, and compassion. She’s uplifted our workplace culture while steering the company through important—though sometimes uncomfortable—steps in our growth.
An HR Expert’s Journey to Coforma
A background in psychology and commitment to helping people thrive inspired Ellie’s early career. “After graduation, I realized that the best way to combine my love of humans and drive to help was through the HR career path,” she shares.
Starting in the medical field and working her way into an HR generalist role, she later earned a degree in HR Business Administration and found her niche helping startups scale into mid-sized organizations. Her experience in fast-moving environments equipped her to lead change and manage growth, but she wanted to find a way to do this while still centering her values.
When Ellie joined Coforma in 2022 as a Senior People Partner—drawn to our mission and to the company leadership’s commitment to employees—she found a way to do just that.
“The most challenging part of working for startups is making sure your values are aligned with the founders and leaders,” she reflects. “This is where Coforma became a shining light for me, and what guided me towards my role today.”
A Steady Presence in a Whirlwind Year
Since stepping into the VP role, Ellie has helped stabilize our team and strengthen trust in the company. She spent her first several months implementing a series of initiatives to mature our operations while reinforcing a people-first culture.
For example, she implemented a new review process that’s scalable and less work for managers and employees, and led a thoughtful revamp of our PeopleOps tech stack. Her team expanded mental health support for employees during a particularly challenging year. They also launched Coforma’s first Employee Resource Groups to create formal spaces for connection, advocacy, and belonging.
Ellie has accomplished all this while continuing to oversee the day-to-day operations side of PeopleOps. “I cannot say enough words of praise,” one of her colleagues shared. “All our open tickets, threads, and issues have been supported with such grace and care, it makes me literally catch my breath.”
Championing Connection and Communication
Ellie knows culture thrives in connection. In a remote-first company, opportunities to gather in person are rare, but she helped create them through volunteer events with the American Heart Association, which gave employees the chance to come together in service of a cause aligned with our values.
One of Ellie’s most lasting impacts has been on how Coforma communicates in times of change. “Ellie’s approach to change management really shines,” says Head of Marketing and Communications, Tanya Wheeler-Berliner. “She makes herself available for office hours, especially after the rollout of something people might have a lot of questions about. She makes sure there's education and support, and faces sensitive topics with empathy and transparency.”
Ellie champions office hours, open Q&A sessions, and informal forums for questions and feedback. Inspired by her efforts, other teams have adopted this communication model, creating more space for dialogue and trust across the entire company.
Her colleagues feel Ellie’s positive influence. “It’s no secret that this year has been challenging for the PeopleOps team, but Ellie is always there when I—and we—need her,” says Thomas Castro, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition. “She is patient and caring, and I couldn’t ask for a better coworker.”
Senior Director of Design, Christina Kornegay, adds, “When we say this is a great place to work, you can cite many a reason, but one of my favorites is getting to partner with people like Ellie, who are real MVPs in helping empower me to do my best work and to feel well-informed and cared about while I do it.”
What’s Next On Coforma’s HR Horizon
Ellie plans to continue building on the foundation of compassionate care she’s established at Coforma. “I’m excited for the future,” she shares. “I want to find ways to feed our culture alongside a growing team in a shifting political landscape, introduce experiences, and ensure Coforma continues to be an employer of excellence by supporting all employees with our benefits, perks, and culture.”