Meet Michelle
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My Life Has Been Shaped by Love
Human Connection Expert | Author | Consultant | Facilitator | Certified John Maxwell Coach
For most of my life, I thought love was something you felt. What I have learned through leadership, motherhood, loss, caregiving, faith, reinvention, and human connection is that love is something you choose. And those choices have shaped my life.
Human Connection Expert | Author | Speaker | Facilitator| Certified John Maxwell Coach
Before There Was A Framework, There Was A Life
I grew up as the youngest of eight children in a small town in northern Wisconsin. We did not have much money, but my mother taught me one lesson that would stay with me forever. When people gathered around our table, she would say: “They are not coming for the food. They are coming for the love.” At the time, I did not realize she was teaching me one of the most important lessons of my life. Years later, that lesson would become the foundation of my work, my books, and ultimately The Secret Ingredient Is Always Love™.
THE EXPERIENCES THAT SHAPED ME
Whether you’re preparing for a podcast interview, keynote, conference, television appearance, or media feature, download Michelle’s official media resources below. Everything has been designed to make it easy to introduce, promote, and share The Secret Ingredient Is Always Love™
Motherhood
I am a proud mother of 11 children. Each one has taught me that people experience love differently and that understanding others is one of the greatest expressions of love.
Bryce
When my son Bryce was born prematurely at just 2 pounds, 6 ounces, his heart stopped three times. In one of the most difficult moments of my life, I learned what faith, hope, and unconditional love truly look like.
Wendy
When my sister Wendy was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, I stepped away from corporate life to help care for her. Walking beside her during the final months of her life changed me forever and deepened my understanding of what it means to truly show up for another person.
Reinvention
Like many people, my life has included heartbreak, disappointment, loss, unexpected turns, and reinvention. Again and again, I have discovered that our greatest struggles often become our greatest teachers.
My Professional Journey
Turning Human Connection Into Action
Mission: To Bring More Love Into the World
My professional journey began as a nurse in the United States Air Force during Desert Storm. From there, I spent more than 25 years leading and consulting across leadership, culture, employee experience, customer experience, diversity and inclusion, and organizational transformation. My work has taken me to 37 countries and allowed me to help thousands of leaders create cultures where people feel valued, supported, and like they matter. Today, I bring together everything I have learned from both life and business to help people create extraordinary experiences through love in action.
What Was Missing Became What I Give
When I look back on my life, I can see a common thread. Many of the things I needed most—encouragement, belonging, support, understanding, and human connection—became the very things I wanted to create for others. The Secret Ingredient Is Always Love™ is not just the title of a book. It is a philosophy. A way of leading. A way of serving. A way of living. And a reminder that every interaction leaves an emotional impact.
WATCH MY STORY
The story behind the message is just as important as the message itself. Watch the journey that inspired The Secret Ingredient Is Always Love™.
Bring the Message to Your Organization
Services:
- Speaking
- Consulting
- Facilitation
- Coaching
What Emotional Impact Am I Having on Others?
That question has guided my work, my relationships, my leadership, and my life. I believe it may be one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves.
Because people perform differently, live differently, and love differently when they know they matter.