When Megan Barbier first joined Athena in March, she wasn’t expecting the journey to be quite so immediate—or quite so profound.

“I’ve been a member of many professional and women’s organizations over the years,” Megan shared, “but this has been far and away the most remarkable experience I’ve ever had with a membership.”

Megan is a seasoned people executive, a champion of human-centered leadership, and a passionate advocate for the future of HR. Her work spans advising and consulting for early-stage tech companies, driving strategies in hyper-growth VC and PE environments, and steering large-scale HR operations for a Global Fortune 500 powerhouse. She has dedicated her career to mentoring rising leaders and shaping the evolution of workplace culture. 

She has seen and done a lot; but what she found at Athena surprised even her. “It was like I walked into a hallway, heading toward one door… and Athena helped me kick open all the other doors I didn’t even know existed.”

Designing an Experience for the Individual, Not the Average

Megan describes her first 36 hours with Athena as action-oriented. After joining, she was promptly contacted by her Member Engagement Advisor who not only welcomed her but laid out a thoughtful, customized action plan aligned with her goals. “It wasn’t just, ‘Welcome to the platform, figure it out.’ It was, ‘We hear you. Here’s how we’re going to help you get there.’ That was a game changer.”

That sense of intentionality has continued to define her Athena experience. “Every introduction has been high quality. These aren’t superficial networking calls. They’re meaningful conversations with people who genuinely want to connect and help one another.”

She contrasted this with other organizations, where it’s easy to feel like just another member number. “Here, I feel seen. I feel like the team is genuinely invested in whether or not I reach my goals.”

In today’s era of personalization, Megan was struck by just how tailored Athena feels. “There’s this incredible balance between structure and customization. The programming, the introductions, the opportunities—everything feels like it was designed for me, not for some generic ‘member profile.’ That’s rare.”

Board Service—And So Much More

Initially, Megan joined Athena with a focus on board service. With prior experience through UCLA’s Women in Governance program and other board readiness efforts, she hoped Athena might take that ambition to the next level.

And it has—exceeding her expectations.

She recently attended a joint event between Athena and Extraordinary Women on Boards in San Francisco, where she met powerhouse leaders. “It was amazing. These aren’t just panels or webinars. They’re high-value spaces where you can raise your hand, ask real questions, and build relationships with women who are already on boards. It’s rare access.”

But the beauty of the experience, Megan noted, is that board readiness is just one of many doors Athena opens.

“I’ve attended salons on CEO-through-acquisition strategies, financial acumen for operators, even podcasting as a platform for leadership. These are all areas I’m exploring—or now feel empowered to explore—because Athena put them in front of me. And even if I don’t pursue all of them, I now have a better roadmap to share with the women I mentor. That’s powerful.”

Reimagining the Role of HR

In addition to her own leadership evolution, Megan is animated by the future of her field: human resources. “There has never been a more exciting time to be a people executive,” she said. “We are standing at the edge of massive change—hybrid work, AI, the evolving employer-employee contract. HR has the opportunity to be at the center of designing what work looks like in the future.”

For Megan, trust is the new currency. And she sees organizations like Athena as key to helping HR leaders step into their power. “For so long, HR was isolated—otherized. Now, the best organizations weave people and human capital into their strategic fabric, and we have the chance to shape the systems that will define the next generation of work.”

From Isolation to Synergy

When Megan looks back at the early years of her career, she remembers the loneliness. “In HR especially, there was this belief that other professionals in your field were the competition. It was isolating.”

Today, she sees something very different emerging—and particularly in Athena. “I’ve seen this amazing camaraderie and mutual synergy that Athena really brings out in people. I’m really excited about that, because I think, ‘well, wow, I worked really hard. I have an amazing career… what happens if I put rocket boosters on that with a community of like-minded women behind me?’ That’s the stuff!”

ROI That’s Personal

Megan is quick to note that her experience with Athena has already paid dividends. “If we’re talking ROI—I’ve more than gotten mine. I’ve referred people without hesitation. I talk about Athena constantly. But more importantly, I feel energized. Inspired. Seen.”

Her hope is that Athena’s community continues to grow, while maintaining the intimacy and bespoke feel that has made such an impact on her. “Athena has something really special. And I think the world is just beginning to see what’s possible when women like us come together with intention.”