Your audience craves real insight. I deliver the truth—no fluff, no jargon, just strategies that work.
You don’t need another speaker who just inspires.
You need someone who makes your audience think, nod, and take action.
That’s where I come in.
Smart. Strategic. A little sassy. And exactly what your audience needs to hear.
When hiring’s a mess, culture’s in chaos, or leadership is missing the mark, everyone feels it— but no one’s saying what’s really going wrong.
That’s where I come in.
I don’t do vague inspiration.
I deliver real stories, sharp insights, and actionable frameworks your audience can use the moment they walk out the door.
Because when leaders finally see the people friction slowing them down?
They’re ready to move fast—and that’s when real change happens.
"Michelle’s realistic take on workplace trends opened all our eyes to what employees need and what employers must do. Her relatable style and humor immediately won over our HR group, bringing insights we all needed to hear and practice. If you get the chance to book her, do it before someone else does!"
— Kimberly Wittenauer, Illinois Valley SHRM Chapter Chair
Why book me?
When your audience needs real-world solutions—not just inspiration—I deliver.
My talks connect the dots between leadership, hiring, team health, and culture—so things finally start to make sense.
Attendees walk away with practical strategies they can apply immediately, because good ideas aren’t enough if they don’t drive action.
Available for: Keynotes, panels, leadership retreats, and podcasts
Formats: Virtual and in-person engagements
Location: Based in Chicago, available nationwide
Talks are customized to your audience—let’s make sure it’s a perfect fit.
Need a speaker who delivers real insight, fast action, and zero fluff?
Let’s talk about how I can make your next event your most actionable (and surprisingly entertaining) one yet.
Speaking Topics:
Startup Success Rx: Build a Leadership Team Investors Trust
Startups rarely fail because of the product. They fail because of people problems.
From co-founder conflict to bad early hires and accidental culture chaos, the biggest startup killers aren’t technical—they’re human. In this high-energy session, Michelle unpacks the real reasons startups stall, revealing the people patterns that silently sabotage traction. Founders, buyers, and investors walk away with clear red flags to watch—and what to do instead.
Perfect for accelerators, startup teams, investor summits, and founder retreats. Click here to learn more.
Decision-Making Mastery: Navigating Complexity and Uncertainty
Growth-focused leaders can’t afford hesitation—or reckless confidence.
When stakes are high and answers aren’t clear, how do you make smart calls? This session gives leaders a decision-making toolkit: how to manage risk, navigate uncertainty, and balance data with instinct—without freezing up or overcorrecting.
Ideal for executive teams, leadership offsites, and industry panels tackling disruption.
The Talent Magnet: Leadership Keys to Retain and Attract the Best
Great people don’t just join companies. They join cultures—and stay for leaders.
Learn how to attract and keep top talent by designing an employee experience that works: build a magnetic culture, empower managers to lead well, and stop losing high performers to burnout or disengagement.
Built for HR leaders, people managers, and SMB execs who want real retention.
Building a Resilient Workforce: Navigating Grief, Loss and Organizational Change
Resilience isn’t a buzzword, it’s a business imperative.
From personal grief to organizational upheaval, your people are carrying more than they show. This powerful session teaches leaders how to guide teams through disruption with empathy, steadiness, and strategic support—without losing momentum.
Recommended for post-M&A teams, founders navigating change, and leadership summits.
Surviving Growth: The Leadership & Hiring Mistakes That Will Tank Your Business:
Scaling fast? Great. Just don’t hire wrong or promote the wrong people.
When you grow, the cracks widen: bad hires, weak leadership, and misaligned teams get expensive fast. This session reveals the most common missteps that stall growing businesses and how to fix them before they cost you revenue, morale, or key clients.
Essential for SMBs, founder-led companies, and scale-stage leadership teams.
My talks blend sharp insights, humor, and real-world strategies. Attendees leave with practical takeaways they can use immediately.
Available for keynotes, panel discussions, virtual talks, and leadership roundtables.