Carmen Amara leads People Operations at Yelp with a clear conviction: businesses do not have to sacrifice employee well-being for profitability. Since joining Yelp in 2022, she has been a driving force behind the company’s remote-first strategy, implemented early during the pandemic and maintained despite widespread office return mandates across the tech industry. Under her guidance, Yelp’s employee-centric approach is rooted in data and trust—nearly 90% of employees prefer remote work, and the company’s productivity and innovation remain strong. Carmen insists, “When people feel good at work, they do better work,” reflecting her commitment to cultivating cultures where people thrive while driving business success.
Born and raised with strong work values influenced by her manufacturing leadership parents, Amara holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and international relations from Colby College and an MBA from Bentley University. Before Yelp, she spent over two decades in HR leadership roles, including Vice President of Global People Operations & Development at eBay and Human Resources Director at Home Depot. Certified in Executive Coaching through Columbia University, she leverages her expertise to develop leadership and employee experience strategies that balance operational effectiveness with humanity.
Amara’s passion extends beyond policy into the heart of workplace culture, emphasizing empathy as a vital leadership skill. She advocates for skill-building in empathy, “because when that’s not being lived, it erodes culture.” Yelp’s investment in in-person connection through annual gatherings underscores her belief that remote work does not eliminate the need for meaningful face-to-face interaction. Amara also credits coaching—both as a mentor and mentee—as essential to her growth, saying, “I always have at least a coach, if not two, because we all need a sounding board.” Her focus remains on helping others unlock potential, ensuring the workplace is a space of authenticity, connection, and impact.