Monica Pleasant is a strategic human resources executive dedicated to building high-performing, inclusive cultures that drive meaningful impact. As Vice President of People & Culture at Illumination Health + Home, she leads talent strategy aligning people practices with the organization’s mission to provide integrated housing and healthcare services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Monica brings deep experience in healthcare and complex, mission-driven environments. Prior to joining Illumination, she served as Director of Human Resources at Medtronic, where she partnered with senior leaders to advance workforce planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. She previously held HR leadership roles at Edwards Lifesciences, supporting business growth through strong leadership and employee engagement strategies.
Monica is passionate about creating environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work. She believes that strong cultures are built on trust, clarity, unity, and shared accountability.
Monica is “learner for life” and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology at Alliant International University. She is actively engaged in the HR community serving as Past President on the Board of Directors for National Human Resources Association in Orange County.