The Discover Collective

Carolyn Clougherty is a seasoned HR and Payroll executive whose leadership is defined by authenticity, clarity, and a deep belief in the power of people. With more than 25 years of experience across HR operations, payroll, HRIS, and shared services, she has built a career helping organizations navigate complexity with confidence — and helping people feel supported through every stage of change.

Carolyn brings a rare blend of operational expertise and human‑centered leadership. She guides clients through transformation with a steady, grounded presence, creating structure where there is uncertainty and simplifying challenges that often feel overwhelming. Her approach is rooted in partnership: listening deeply, understanding the story behind the problem, and designing solutions that honor both business goals and employee experience.

Carolyn’s career spans large‑scale HR modernization, enterprise HCM deployments, operating model redesigns, and shared services transformation. She has led teams through mergers, rapid growth, and organizational restructuring — always with a focus on building trust, strengthening communication, and ensuring people feel valued throughout the process.

Before joining Discover PPP, Carolyn served as Vice President of HR Operations & Shared Services at Keolis North America, where she oversaw HR operations for a 11,000‑employee workforce across the U.S. and Canada. Her leadership helped modernize shared services, streamline processes, and deliver multimillion‑dollar efficiencies. More importantly, she built teams that felt connected, empowered, and proud of the work they delivered.

Colleagues and clients describe Carolyn as someone who brings both heart and rigor to every engagement. She is known for her ability to see the big picture while never losing sight of the people doing the work. Her calm, thoughtful style creates space for honest conversations, and her operational discipline ensures that solutions are not only strategic but sustainable.

Rooted in the Greater Boston community, Carolyn is passionate about supporting women‑owned businesses, building meaningful partnerships, and creating workplaces where people feel seen, supported, and set up to succeed. Outside of her professional world, she finds joy in family, creativity, and capturing life’s meaningful moments.

At her core, Carolyn is a builder — of teams, of trust, of systems that work, and of workplaces where people can thrive. Her work is driven by a simple belief: when you take care of people, the business follows.