Connection is the Key
My path to leadership wasn’t smooth or simple. I had to learn through trial and error, with a lot of resilience. What I discovered along the way is that people don’t thrive on strategy alone; they thrive on connection. It’s the missing piece that makes leadership feel lighter, cultures grow stronger, and confidence take root. That’s the lesson that shaped me and the work I do today.
Real leadership begins with real connection.
Meet Michelle
I've been where you are: leading, doubting, and still showing up.
I didn’t start out thinking I’d one day be a keynote speaker or coach. I started out like so many leaders do, thrown into challenges, carrying responsibilities that felt bigger than me, and figuring it out as I went. Along the way, I led organizations through tough transitions, rebuilt teams that had lost their spark, and discovered a truth I couldn’t ignore: people are wired for connection, and without it, everything else unravels.
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That realization shaped me as much as it shaped my work. Over 30 years, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about titles, degrees, or perfection. It’s about how you show up for people and how you create space for them to grow. That’s why I built the GET REAL™ and Speak POWER™ frameworks: they’re the practical tools I wish I had when I was carrying the weight alone.
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Today, whether I’m on stage, in a workshop, or one-on-one with a leader, my goal is the same: to make leadership feel less overwhelming and more human. I bring the lessons I’ve lived, the humor that keeps us grounded, and the belief that connection—real, authentic connection—is what unlocks confidence, culture, and results.
