Michelle Ray

Michelle Ray is a Hall of Fame business keynote conference speaker; a sought-after international leadership and change expert and,  an entrepreneur, an author, and an educator.

Michelle Ray delivers powerful messages on change management, resilient leadership, accountability, talent retention and employee engagement. Discover your highest potential through Michelle’s compelling presentations, coaching and workshops. A dynamic motivational speaker, Michelle goes one step further to understand your unique challenges and she is instrumental in inspiring positive change. Her passion is her power. +

Most importantly, Michelle is a person. A passionate, deeply caring person. A fearless leader who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. She's the kind of person who’ll do what it takes to help her team get outrageous results, even in a down economy.

After a successful career in media and advertising in Australia, Michelle shifted gears and accepted a leadership role at a global non-profit youth organization. She facilitated enduring partnerships between youth, entrepreneurs, and educators, preparing future generations to thrive in tomorrow’s business environment.

Michelle encountered a total contrast of leadership styles during her career, both good and bad. These experiences sparked her desire to help leaders not only master the fundamentals but also become the best versions of themselves. She seized the opportunity to venture into the speaking world and has since shared these messages with audiences around the world.

With more than 25 years of experience researching leadership, accountability, change, and workforce trends, Michelle has a deep understanding of new realities demanding the attention of leaders. Specifically, a dramatic shift in where and how we work, generational dynamics, talent shortages, and managing disruption while keeping the “human factor” of leadership top-of-mind.

A credit to her Aussie roots, Michelle engages audiences with her down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is style. As a respected thought leader, she has worked with some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including Microsoft, the FBI, TD Bank, PayPal, and an array of Fortune 500 companies. --

How Michelle Ray helps Companies, Organizations & Associations:

Increase accountability
Clearly and effectively communicate your expectations and deadlines. Create connections between leaders, teams, and customers.

Retain top talent
Create and implement strategies for talent management, acquisition and retention, succession planning, mentoring, and project planning.

Improve team engagement
Identify the root causes of low morale and disengagement. Evaluate employee engagement initiatives and implement customized solutions.

Leadership development
Clearly identify leadership competencies and learn ways to encourage and improve these skills such as personalized coaching or group training.

Embrace change
Define desired outcomes and analyze current transition strategies. Identify roadblocks to determine the ideal execution of new initiatives.

In-person or Virtual Presentations:

Leadership: It Starts with You
Ignite the Power of Personal Leadership +

If you were asked to identify the leaders in your organization, would you choose them based on their job descriptions? Often, we think of leadership as a title. The truth is that leadership is about character.Simply put, a leader is a person who can take ownership of their thoughts and, consequently, their actions – in any situation.

In this energizing keynote presentation, you will discover the power of personal responsibility and strengthen your relationship with leaders, co-workers, and clients. Get ready to take the lead, embrace challenges, and create new outcomes – in your business and your life – long after the event ends.

Presentation takeaways:

• Take charge of your mindset and ignite the power of personal leadership
• Say “No!” to negativity for greater productivity, positive results, and stronger relationships
• Rethink your approach to realize a more fulfilled experience at work
• Build a personal leadership blueprint to transform your career and your life
• Tap into your innovative potential to bring out the best in yourself

This presentation is for anyone who is ready to be the leader of their own life.

If you’re looking to empower your team (and yourself) to take the lead and BE the lead, this keynote is for you!  --

Real-Time Leadership
How to be Ready, Responsive, and Relevant in a Radically Changing World +

When change and uncertainty strike, leaders must be ready to lead, even when the answers aren’t immediately at their fingertips. Leadership used to be more about the “long view” – looking out on the horizon to chart your organization’s future. But, as recent events have reminded us, we don’t live in that world any more. And the future remains outside of our control.

Now, you’re facing a host of pressures. Ongoing digital transformation. Generational change. Remote work. Talent retention. Not to mention adjusting to a post-pandemic world. These and other challenges compel you to act right now, in real time.

During this dynamic keynote based on her most recent book, Leading in Real Time, you will learn how to do just that.

You’ll discover a practical, purposeful, and powerful process so you can remain ready, responsive, and relevant in a radically changing world.

Presentation takeaways:

• Respond proactively to new realities with renewed confidence and conviction
• Implement Michelle’s “Ready. Responsive. Relevant” leadership approach to remain in-sync with your workforce and customers
• Shift your mindset from fixed to flexible to be a real-time leader
• Ignite the power of positive change at all levels of your organization

This presentation is for forward-thinking leaders and teams eager to answer the call and respond effectively to today’s business challenges. If you’re looking to apply a future-ready approach in a radically changing world, this keynote is for you! --

Who Moved My Future
How to Cultivate a Change-Ready Mindset +

“Why is this happening?”
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
“But we’ve always done it that way!”

If you’ve ever advocated for change within your organization, you’ve probably encountered these reactions.

As a leader, you’re expected to respond to situations and events outside of your control. That’s easier said than done. Especially when you’re facing an environment of uncertainty that makes your people feel anxious about their future.

If you’re facing these challenges, Michelle has good news for you. It is possible for you and your teams to shift your perspective, let go of the old, and enthusiastically embrace the new.

If you’re looking to apply a future-ready approach in a radically changing world, this keynote is for you!

This dynamic and interactive keynote unpacks the core reasons why we resist change. I will demonstrate how achieving greater levels of acceptance will empower you and your team to move beyond the “status quo.”

Ultimately, you’ll leave with solutions that will transform your people into a resilient, change-ready team.

Presentation takeaways:

• Transform your fear of change into hope for the future
• Achieve buy-in to change by addressing the human side first
• Apply Michelle’s 3-step process to build confidence and enthusiasm in the face of uncertainty
• Learn to anticipate disruption and shifting business trends
• Recognize the difference between reacting vs. responding to change

This presentation is for leaders who want to move beyond the “status quo” and embrace change with positive anticipation. If you’re looking to instill a change-ready culture in your organization, this keynote is for you! --

The Transformational Leader
Be Bold. Be Real. Be Ready. +

It’s no secret that today’s workforce craves authenticity from their leaders and preferred brands.

As a leader, you want to be authentic. You know that it’s an essential character trait if you want to build trusting relationships with your teams. You intuitively understand that being relatable and transparent can give you a unique competitive advantage.

So, how do you make this happen?

In this insightful presentation, Michelle will teach you how to forge relationships with your employees that are positive and real.

You’ll discover how to connect meaningfully with your diverse teams by making them feel appreciated, heard, understood, and included.

More importantly, you’ll hone greater self-awareness to boldly step out of your comfort zone.

With these new skills, you can become the transformational leader and successfully lead your workforce into the future.

Presentation takeaways:

• Build greater trust between leaders and teams for higher engagement and retention
• Learn how to model authenticity and integrity in all of your interactions
• Discover three key characteristics of transformational leadership and why they matter to your workforce
• Enhance your organization’s reputation and capture the hearts and minds of future talent
• This presentation is for leaders who want to deepen their team connections and accelerate the path to progress.

If you’re ready to be real and lead your teams boldly, this keynote is for you! -- 

Staying Power
Success Strategies for Resilient Leadership +

What makes a person resilient? Can resilience be taught? Or is it just that some people are better able to rebound from adversity than others?

We all experience events outside of our control, the inevitable peaks and valleys of life. What matters is how we first interpret and then respond to them.

If we want to rise above challenges – regardless of their shape and size – we need to develop a mindset of managing rather than coping.

Resilience is the cornerstone of our emotional and psychological survival in challenging times. In this inspiring keynote, get ready to learn the three essential strategies to access your resilient mindset.

• Rethink: Stop dwelling on destructive beliefs. Make room to expand possibilities, exercise greater resilience, and move forward.
• Respond: Learn to adapt to discomfort by responding, rather than reacting. Take a step back and ask yourself, Is there another way?
• Rebound: Grow from adversity and become more resilient by recognizing challenges as opportunities for greater insight.

When you implement these strategies, you’ll be able to uncover your resilience “DNA” so you can bounce back with greater confidence in the face of future challenges.

Presentation takeaways:

• Reframe your perspective regarding life’s ups and downs
• Develop a resilient mindset and tap into your inner strengths
• Learn from setbacks and hone your “bouncebackability” skills
• Approach adversity with clarity, confidence, and composure
• Become a resilient role model to others at work and in life.

This presentation is for individuals – from every walk of life – who want to tap into their inner strengths so they can take on the next challenge with confidence and optimism

If you’re looking to triumph over adversity and make an immediate impact, this keynote is for you! --

Meaning is the New Motivation
How to Attract and Retain Talent in the New World of Work +

Today’s highly sought-after new wave of talent is not only more informed than any other time in history; they also have their collective fingers on the pulse when choosing their employer.

This savvy group expects to work with forward-thinking organizations that truly understand what motivates them, as well as self-aware, accountable leaders.

Meaning and purpose is the new currency. That’s why leaders need to focus on building deeper relationships with their employees in order to attract and retain them.

As workplace demographics change, so do employee expectations. Today’s workforce sees themselves as citizens of the world, who are passionate about making a difference. It’s now in your hands to create an environment where they will thrive.

Presentation takeaways:

• Discover why meaning is the new motivation for today's workforce
• Recognize the myths and truths behind a high performing workplace
• Learn the four influencing factors that are critical to talent retention
• Create new pathways to harness open-mindedness and flexibility in your leaders
• Build a dynamic environment where people can focus on purpose-driven work

This presentation is for leaders, managers, and HR professionals who want to move the needle on their talent strategies to effectively attract and retain top talent in the new world of work. If you’re willing and ready to adjust your leadership style and relate to your workforce on a deeper level, this keynote is for you! --

To inquire about Michelle Ray's speaking schedule & booking speaker Michelle Ray, contact us.