Danielle Silvestro
People advisory for startup founders | Psychologist + coach | Founder, The People Vault
About
Hi! I'm Danielle. I run The People Vault and I'm on a mission to help founders build companies people are obsessed with, by translating founder intent into teams, culture, and ways of working that actually work. Learn more here: thepeoplevault.coWhen I'm not geeking out on how to get the best out of founders and their teams, I'm probably talking about organisational ghosts, writing about the human side of building ambitious startups, moonlighting as a Saturday shop girl for my husband's craft biltong brand, or hanging out with my doberman, bull terrier and naked cats. To me, startup culture is the founder. The way you think, lead and work gets baked in whether you mean it to or not. That's why I care so much about helping founders build companies that feel energising to lead and great to work in.I work closely with founders to build teams as brilliant as their missions. Over 15+ years in this space, I've seen firsthand how much difference it makes when culture and ways of working are built intentionally from the start. I've seen both ends of the spectrum, and the difference in outcomes is stark. As a psychologist, ICF certified executive coach, and fractional head of people, I've spent a lot of time thinking about how to design incredible organisations, and wondering why more founders don't get this support earlier.I want to change that. I'd love for you to join me.
Work Experience
Oct 2022 - Present (4y 1m)
I’m a partner to startup founders navigating the people side of growth. I help them figure out their “people stuff” - from building fair and clear salary philosophies to designing onboarding processes that actually work. The reality is, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to people. Every founder, team, and stage is different, so my work is always tailored to their specific dynamics and needs. Most of the time, this means rolling up my sleeves to help with things like: → Building role levels and salary bands to reduce guesswork and build trust → Designing onboarding, performance, and development systems that reflect how the team actually works → Supporting manager and leadership development (helping brilliant individuals turn into brilliant leaders) → Translating values into decisions and habits so they don’t just live on job ads / a notion site. → Coaching founders through high-stakes people decisions with clarity and calm Right now this work usually falls into three buckets: → People Counsel (ongoing support, advice & coaching) → People Sprints (short, focused projects) → People Retainer (as an embedded fractional Head of People) The exact shape always follows what the founder and company actually need. I also have a small team who can handle People Ops when needed (contracts, onboarding + hiring ops, payroll) so the basics are covered while we focus on the deeper work. I’m not about quick fixes. I help founders build the systems, behaviours, and relationships that can grow with the company without adding structure (or complexity) for the sake of it.
Oct 2022 - Present (4y 1m)
As an ICF-accredited coach, I work with founders and their teams to build confidence and clarity in their roles. This often involves → Running psychometric assessments to help leaders understand their strengths and blind spots. → Facilitating 360° feedback so leaders get a clearer view of how they show up for their teams. → Helping founders identify and support future leaders in their teams. → Coaching people through the messy, ambiguous parts of startup realities.
Oct 2022 - Present (4y 1m)
I run workshops for founders and teams to tackle challenges and get aligned. These could include → Leadership offsites to set direction and focus. → Team sessions on how to work better together (communication, collaboration, etc.). → Manager training to help first-time (& seasoned) managers feel confident and capable. → Co-creating people initiatives with teams so they feel meaningful and actually get used.
Apr 2023 - Jan 2025 (1y 9m)
Ezra is a people development platform offering accessible, high impact coaching - delivered at scale. As an Executive Coach, I work with leaders to tackle challenges like ✔ Strengthening leadership skills and navigating tricky situations ✔ Building self-awareness and resilience to lead with confidence ✔ Creating practical strategies to achieve both personal and team goals This role allows me to support individuals in real-time as they grow and make a lasting impact in their organisations.
