Her Story
About Michelle
It's God that led me to where I am currently, as well as the business that I started. I've been an educator since 1995, and part of that is people development and people growth. It started with children and then moved to adults who engage with children, and that has led me to leadership where I'm training adults and thinking about the issues that children have, particularly children who look like me. I'm a Black woman from the west side of Chicago, and that's a demographic that has to deal with certain traumas. In my current role as Chief Operating Officer, I lead all of our operations in our 1200-member church. I have seven staff who report directly to me from finance, to media and technology, to our assimilation and connection, which is ministry engagement. I also engage with strategy, dealing with our trustee board and our deacon board. It's a lot of strategy, thinking, culture building, and change management. I handle day-to-day operations but also strategically lead the staff, so my coaching experience comes into play. Each individual that serves on my team has their own needs and goals, and I have to make sure I'm engaging with them and helping them get to where they're ultimately trying to go while also doing their day-to-day work. I used to be a school principal, and this feels like being the principal of the church, with the pastor being like the head of school. For me, my biggest achievement is helping people grow into who they were purposed to be. Anybody that I come across should be growing if they hang around me long enough, and if they're not, then our relationship is in vain. People can reach back and say that because of their work with me, or Dr. Edwards, they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that work. That's the thing I've appreciated most about my trajectory.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michelle
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've received is that who you are is more important than what you do. It's the foundation for what you will do, so be careful being performative. Let who you are drive what you do, not what you do drive you. I wouldn't call it technical career advice, but rather a lesson about being authentic. Don't be performative in your work. Instead, let who you are be the foundation that drives what you do.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Know who you are and really spend time understanding why you are on this earth, and do that. Do what you were brought on earth to do. Don't work just to work. It should be about assignment, not just making money. You're going to make money, but don't live just chasing dollars. Stand up for what you believe. Sometimes it may cost you your job, but at least you can look at yourself in the mirror at night. Don't allow people to mistreat you. It doesn't matter who they are. You know, stand up. Know who you are. Do what you believe you're on the earth to do, and you will always be fine. Live on assignment.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
As Chief Operating Officer of a faith-based organization, I'm at the top in my field. There's nowhere to go for me in terms of climbing, and I'm at an age where I'm not necessarily trying to prove myself or looking to be this or that. I'm beyond that. So the challenge is, how do I continue to grow in the space that I'm in, making sure that I'm growing spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and not just trying to find another position in the space. As an entrepreneur with my business, I have a focus on what I want to do, and I want it to be feasible for people, especially women and BIPOC folks, to be able to afford what I do. That's who I want to serve. But I also have to be mindful that things that are free aren't always appreciated. So I have to make what I do accessible but also understand that what I do and what I offer are very important. I don't want to overcharge, but I want to be accessible to the right people.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Communication is one of my core values. I talk about it all the time. Integrity is another core value. I live within and do everything within integrity. Being is another value of mine. You have to be and know who you are. Continuous growth is also a core value of mine. These values guide both my work and personal life.
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