Meet Michelle Ray, Hall of Fame Leadership Keynote Speaker and Author
Create Engaged Workplaces, Develop Exceptional Leaders and Implement Practical Strategies to Revitalize Your Workplace Culture
Michelle Ray is a Hall of Fame business keynote speaker. A sought-after international leadership and change expert. An entrepreneur, an author, and an educator.
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.
Professional accomplishments:
- Member of the Canadian Speakers Hall of Fame
- Certified Speaking Professional Designation (CSP)
- Certified Virtual Presenter Designation
- Top 10 finalist, “North America’s Next Greatest Speaker” contest
- Top 10 Motivational Speakers, eSpeakers
- Presentation Mastery Award from Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (BC chapter)
- Listed in “Who’s Who” of Professional Speakers
- Author of two books: “Lead Yourself First! Indispensable Lessons in Business & in Life” and “Leading in Real Time: How to Drive Success in a Radically Changing World”
- Essays and articles published in The Globe & Mail and numerous trade journals
Unprecedented Times Call For
Exceptional Leadership… Now, More than Ever.
As I work with leaders from organizations in the corporate world, small businesses, associations and all levels of government, what I consistently see is a collective desire to respond to on-going change and disruption with less struggle and anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated their concerns as they scramble to adapt to the unexpected and unfamiliar new realities that have been thrust upon them. Specifically: How to keep themselves and their teams feeling positive about the future, how to take the lead when there is so much uncertainty and how to effectively manage and keep their teams engaged remotely.
Keynote Business Speaker
For more than twenty years, Michelle Ray has delivered thousands of presentations to diverse clientele across five continents. She challenges individuals, as well as clients and audiences, to take charge of themselves, shift perspectives and discover their greatest potential. Her witty, refreshing, uplifting and common sense message has inspired thousands of audiences. The premise is powerfully simple: Leadership is first and foremost a state of mind.
Michelle has delivered her powerful messages on leadership, accountability and engaged workplaces to the “C-Suites” of global corporations, academia, diverse associations, government groups as well as front-line staff. Her clients include notable brands such as Proctor & Gamble, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Shell, Xerox, Paypal, Qantas Airways, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Playboy Enterprises and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Tap into your organization’s innovative potential. Book Michelle.
Since founding her first training, speaking and consulting company in 1995, Michelle has established a training and development division, the Lead Yourself First Institute, to help individuals and organizations take the initiative in the face of change and economic uncertainty.
Michelle’s book, Awards and Credentials
Certified Speaking Professional Designation (CSP)
Selected leadership motivational speakers must meet rigorous requirements for a number of fee-paid presentations, number of clients, continuing education credits and consecutive years of business experience. "CSP" is the only earned designation for professional business speakers. Less than 700 people worldwide have earned this honorable distinction in the speaking industry.
Top Ten Motivational Speaker 2015 by eSpeakers
E-Speakers serves thousands of leadership speakers, motivational speakers, trainers and business coaches, as well as meeting planners and event organizers who hire speakers. Over 17,000 events were booked through their software in 2014. Criteria for inclusion in the "top ten" were the number of positive reviews on the leadership speakers’ profiles, the number of events booked in the last year, buzz around the keynote speakers (Canada and international footprints), and industry designations.
Top Ten North America’s Next Greatest Speaker 2012
From thousands of entries received, Michelle reached the Top Ten Finals of "North America's Next Greatest Speaker" Contest. Michelle spoke at the 12th Annual eWomen Network International Business Expo in Dallas, TX in front of a renowned panel of judges whose criteria included humour, audience engagement, key messages and storytelling abilities.
Presentation Mastery Award
Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers
Voted #1 Speaker in Canada
World’s largest international public seminar company
“Who’s Who” of Professional Speakers
Lists of notable professionals in particular fields
Giving Back
Michelle Ray and the Lead Yourself First Institute was a proud Silver Sponsor of “Around the World in 80 Anthems”. Inspired by 10-year old Capri Everitt of Vancouver, Canada, she supported Capri and her family as they visited SOS Children’s Villages International. This charity works in 134 countries and has over 2500 children’s villages throughout the world.
I’m ready to take my leaders and teams to the next level. Connect me to Michelle.
