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Michelle Y Y. Bess

HR Executive | Champion for System Change | Premier Connector | Fractional People Leader

Michelle Y. Bess is a premier connector of people, most recently serving as the Senior Vice President of People at OppFi. She creates systems and procedures to build equitable companies that see and validate individuals of all backgrounds. Prior to OppFi, Michelle worked at Sprout Social and in college persistence at OneGoal and Posse Chicago. An Alumna of the Surge Fellowship, Michelle attended Whitworth University, earning a B.A. in Biology, and completed Georgetown University’s Executive Certificate in Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Management.

Bess was awarded the 2022 Act Six Legacy Award for extraordinary service to Degrees of Change, 2022 Chicago Center for Urban Life and Culture Alumni Professional Achievement Award for her commitment to building more equitable workplaces, was recognized as a 2018 AdWeek Rising Brand Star, and served as a Board Director of Degrees of Change. She is the past President of the Chicago Public Library Foundation’s Associate Board, and Founder and Co-Lead of The Brave Space, a community for those interested in or leading DEI. Michelle is a native of Washington state and resides in the Kenwood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.

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Michelle Y Y. Bess
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Experience

Founding Member at The People Collective
Executive Coach & Mentor at Loyola University Chicago

Education

B.A. in Biology, Whitworth University
Bellarmine Preparatory School

Location

Chicago, IL, United States