Hollie Castro

Hollie Castro is a distinguished business leader with over 25 years’ experience enhancing shareholder value through strategic business growth and transformation at global companies. A five-time Chief Human Resources and Administration Officer and trusted advisor to the C-suite and Boards with experience spanning Fortune 500 companies to late-stage start-ups, Castro has driven ROI and governance of talent investments while architecting cultures that propel IPO readiness and global expansion. Castro has expertise in global HR strategy, talent management, succession planning, sustainability, ethics, and governance and has been recognized for leading transformations, uniting teams to solve complex challenges, and creating workplaces where employees thrive. She consistently delivers exceptional performance outcomes and significant shareholder value. Additionally, Castro frequently conducts speaking engagements on the intersections of AI, Multigenerations in the workforce and Culture as the Hidden infrastructure.

Castro serves as an Independent Board Member and Chair of the Compensation Committee at Groupe Dynamite, where she brings extensive expertise in succession planning, compensation strategy, and business transformation. She also advises innovative, high-growth organizations. She is a Board Member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Texas TriCities and serves as Chapter Chair in Austin. Additionally, she sits on the Advisory Boards of Woba.io, a Copenhagen-based HR AI start-up, and ADP Ventures, the investment arm of ADP. She also supports the development of future HR leaders on the Advisory Board for the Center for Human Resources at Texas A&M University’s Mays School of Business. Across all these roles, Castro leverages her deep experience in corporate governance, compensation strategy, artificial intelligence, and organizational scaling to deliver strategic value and help boards and leaders prepare for the future of work.

A former CHRO and Chief Administration Officer at publicly traded YETI, BMC Software, Talisman Energy, and technology SaaS start-ups Miro and Kony, Castro began her career at iconic companies like General Electric and Cisco Systems. She is currently an advisor to several CEOs and C-suite at early stage companies. She has managed budgets up to $200 million across 90 countries with workforces ranging from 1,500 to 50,000 employees. Her practical, outcome-oriented approach is rooted in first principles thinking.

Castro brings a wealth of board and advisory experience, having served as an Independent Director for the wellness SaaS start-up Good FX, where she provided strategic guidance during its early growth stages. She has also contributed her expertise as a Non-Profit Board Member for Society for the Performing Arts – Houston and Caprock Academy, supporting initiatives that drive cultural and educational impact. In addition, she has been an Advisory Board Member at Thunderbird University, now part of Arizona State University, where she offered insights on global leadership and business development. Her extensive experience also includes regularly participating in board meetings and acting as a management liaison to key committees—such as Compensation, Nominating and Governance, and M&A Committees—at publicly traded companies, including YETI, BMC Software, and Talisman Energy.

Castro has exemplified strategic leadership across multiple key transitions in her career. She played an instrumental role in leading companies through the shift from private to publicly traded status, including at Groupe Dynamite and YETI, ensuring a seamless transition and long-term growth. Castro also oversaw the successful privatization of BMC Software during its sale to Bain Capital and Insight Partners.. Her leadership was pivotal in the global market expansion of Groupe Dynamite, YETI, BMC Software, and Talisman Energy, driving international market entry and positioning these companies for success. Additionally, Castro’s experience spans global mergers and acquisitions, having overseen more than 25 acquisitions, including major deals with Miro, BMC Software, Cisco, and GE. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with top-tier investors, including Accel and ICONIQ Capital at Miro and Cortec Group at YETI, helping to structure and secure strategic investments that fueled business growth.

Castro was honored as one of HRO Today's HR Superstars in the Thought Leadership category. She is also frequently asked to share her insights in articles and interviews for media outlets such as Inc. Fast Company, Forbes, HR Dive, Quartz, HRO Today, Employee Benefit New, Bizwomen, among others.

She is a certified corporate director by Stanford University and NACD. She holds a BA from Marlboro College and an International MBA from Thunderbird. She has lived and worked in five countries, is fluent in Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, and English. She is passionate about mentoring women and next-generation leaders. She enjoys musical theater, gourmet cooking, mountain adventures, and traveling with her family.