I’m Michelle Gruening, and I believe strong leadership changes everything. With over 20 years of leadership experience at Walt Disney World, Starbucks, the special events industry, and global SaaS companies, I know firsthand what it takes to build leaders and teams that deliver results.

Here’s what I’ve learned: managing is not the same as leading.

Management is a title, but leadership is an identity. The gap between the two shows up when managers focus only on tasks and oversight instead of stepping into their influence, responsibility, and vision. My mission is to help leaders close that gap and become the kind of leaders others want to follow.

As a Maxwell Leadership Certified Trainer, Speaker, and Coach, I bring proven frameworks and real-world experience to every engagement. I challenge leaders to step into responsibility for their impact and put strategies into action that create lasting change across their teams and organizations.

When I’m not working with clients, you’ll find me hiking Colorado’s mountains, getting lost in epic fantasy novels, or adventuring the world with my husband. Our late rescue dog, Macklin, will always be part of the story that shaped who I am.

Ready to build stronger leaders and stronger teams? Let’s start the conversation—schedule your discovery call today.