Michael Bernardi
Business Ops / Partnerships / Experiential Design .. oh my

Intro

I build the operational backbone behind ambitious experiences—tight logistics, clean systems, strong partner outcomes—without losing the human magic.

Recent

Head of Business Operations + Partnerships — And That’s Showbiz

• • Produced multi-venue experiential campaigns for The Great Gatsby and Maybe Happy Ending, owning union coordination, budget tracking, and sponsorship pipeline.

  • Built content approval automations aligning editorial calendars, event timelines, and partner deliverables across teams.

 

Executive Director — Blender Workspace & Events

• • Ran a 15k sq ft Midtown Manhattan venue producing 300+ mid- to large-scale events/meetings per year.

  • Led hybrid teams across social media marketing, event production, community management, and facilities.

  • Implemented sales ops automations that increased lead conversion, reduced response time, and deepened hyper-local partnerships.

The shutdown chapter (because we all have one)

During the global shutdown, I pivoted my customer experience obsession into virtual support platforms for telehealth brands including Peak, Hone Health, and Capsule.

• • Learned pharmacy operations in ~3 weeks (woof).

  • Helped teams adapt quickly to shifting regulations and customer needs.

Before that

Before the shutdown: Manhattan commercial real estate + flexible workspaces—KettleSpace, WeWork, Spacious—focused on channel partnerships and site ops. (Yes, I have an Adam Neumann story.)

Earlier

Earlier, when couch surfing was still charming: theatre and comedy—directing multimedia adaptations, performing in musical retellings of 90s action movies, and inexplicably becoming the youngest Tevye to hit a Broadway stage.

Human section

Outside of work:

• • I call old friends out of the blue for no reason.

  • I’m training my toddler to spin a basketball (while I’m still allowed to squeeze his cheeks).

  • I practice foot acupressure for my wife’s benefit.

CTA

If you want an operator who can run the engine and keep the room warm, let’s talk.

michaelcbernardi@gmail.com | 310.766.4869