Keynote Details

Makele Ndessokia

Chief People Officer at Art + Wellness Enterprises

As Chief Human Resources Officer, Makele Ndessokia is responsible for developing and executing human resource strategies in support of the mission and strategic initiatives of Art and Wellness Enterprises and the non-profit organizations that it serves. Areas of focus include talent management, organizational and performance management, training and development, compensation/payroll, succession planning, HR data/analytics, and change management. Previously, Makele served as Chief People Officer for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary from 2019 to 2023. In that role, she oversaw HR operations and fostered a culture of engagement and impact. She was also part of the senior leadership team that launched the Momentary, navigated Crystal Bridges and the Momentary’s closure and reopening during the COVID pandemic, and initiated the strategic planning for the museum's expansion. Makele was most recently the VP of People and Culture at Team Direct, a retail company where she helped align the people services practices with the company's mission and vision. She also has experience in the academic and public sectors, having worked as a Senior Human Resources Manager and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri, and as an HR Director at the Missouri Dept of Agriculture. She holds a Master of Business Administration from William Woods University in Fulton, MO and a Bachelor of Science from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO.