Emilie Laliberte

Inside the Sandbox

Emilie joined Sandbox as employee #7 and its first-ever Talent Specialist, helping startups, nonprofits, and small businesses (including the Sandbox team itself) build their dream teams. Along the way, she realized the part she loved most wasn’t just finding great people, it was building the systems and culture that kept them around. She made the leap into HR, and today she is Sandbox’s People Operations Manager. She supports client teams as their go-to HR partner, handling payroll and benefits, multi-state compliance, onboarding, and performance frameworks built for each company’s stage of growth. Internally, she helps run Sandbox’s own people operations and sits on the board of the Richmond Compensation Association, where she leads programming that turns compensation strategy into something business leaders can actually use.

Outside of work, Emilie’s usually at a workout class, trying a new restaurant in Richmond, or playing Taylor Swift on repeat as Sandbox’s resident Swiftie. She loves to travel (ask her about her European sabbatical) and spends the rest of her time chasing around Bruin, her 7-month-old yellow lab.

Credentials, Awards & Affiliations

• MBA-HR, Southern New Hampshire University
• BSBA, Bryant University
• Co-Director of Professional Development, Richmond Compensation Association Board (2026-present)
• SHRM-CP
• Richmond SHRM Rising Star Nominee (2023)
• Richmond SHRM, Member
• Lighthouse Labs, Mentor

Favorite Way to Spend a Weekend

Early morning run, a farmer’s market + coffee run, a game of pickleball, and a well-earned trip to Gelati Celesti.

First Real Job

Coaching and refereeing youth basketball

Early Riser or Night Owl

Early riser