Ms. Hunt is internationally known for her work as a change catalyst and “thinking partner” to leaders of organizations and communities on leadership development, organizational transformation, and organizational effectiveness. She works with leaders and their teams to help transform their organizations to higher levels of participation, teamwork and performance. Her work is rooted in the principles of shared vision, values, alignment and continuous learning.
Michele launched her firm in 1995. Her customers have included leadership teams of IBM, Motorola, Swiss Reinsurance Company, Popular, Inc. EVERTEC, Banco Popular of North America, Bright China Management Institute, Banco Do Brazil, BHP of Australia, The US Veterans Administration, Food and Drug Administration, National Park Service, The leadership team of the Chicago Public Schools, Junior Achievement of New York City, World Vision International, The Episcopal Divinity School at Harvard, and the Aruba Quality Foundation - Community Vision Project
Michele is also a keynote speaker at conferences around the world for businesses, not for profit organizations and communities. Her presentations are founded on her belief that people have the capacity to create far better futures than we have dared to dream. She comes to these beliefs through her personal and professional experiences and through her research on others who have dreamed big and turned their dreams into reality. She published these stories in her book, DreamMakers: Putting Vision & Values to Work. Her public speaking topics include:
The Power of DreamMakers: Personal Stories Of DreamMakers Visionary Leadership: Putting Vision & Values to Work The Secret To Cultural Transformation: Engagement, Participation & Teamwork The Inclusive Organization: A Rich Reservoir for Creativity, Performance & Learning In 1992 Ms. Hunt served on President Bill Clinton’s Transition Team. In 1993 she was appointed by President Clinton to serve as the Executive Director of the Federal Quality Institute. The institute's mission was to help seed the reinvention of government agencies as a part President Clintons initiative The National Performance Review: Creating a Government That Works Better and Cost Less, lead by Vice President Al Gore. She brought progressive thought leaders and organizations to work alongside the Cabinet Deputy Secretaries in a public-private partnership on this initiative including: Peter Drucker, John Gardner, Max De Pree, Frances Hesselbein, Peter Senge, GE, Ford, and Herman Miller.
Prior to this appointment, Michele spent 13 years with Herman Miller, Inc., a Fortune 500 global office furniture company. She served on the executive leadership team as Senior Vice President for People, reporting to Max De Pree, CEO and Chairman. In this capacity she led the company’s organizational transformation. She was responsible for global Leadership Development, “Human Resources”, Quality Management, Corporate Communications, and Change Management. The company’s organizational transformation resulted in Herman Miller becoming: Fortune Magazine’s Most Admired Company and America’s Top 10 “Best Companies in America to Work For. The company also was recognized as the Best Company for Women, and The Best Company for Working Mothers. Herman Miller also received the prestigious Bertelsmann Award as The Best Managed Companies in the World, and numerous environmental awards. During her 13 years with the company, Michele also served as Director of Corporate Relations including: government, media, shareholder and community relations.
Michele began her career with the Michigan Department of Corrections as one of the first two female probation officers to supervise adult male felons on probation in Detroit, Michigan. She served as Executive Director of Michigan’s only halfway House for female felons, and later became Michigan’s first female Deputy Warden, leading programs for rehabilitation in a male prison.
Michele Is the author of DreamMakers: Putting Vision & Values To Work. She is also the conceptual director of the documentary DreamMakers, a film that features compelling stories of people who made their hopes and dreams come true, against tremendous obstacles. She also contributed chapters to The Fifth Discipline, By Peter Senge; Leading People, by Robert Rosen and The Diversity Action Book, by Janet Crenshaw Smith.
Michele is an adjunct professor in the Executive Education Program at Georgetown University.
She has served on the boards of directors of Hewitt Associates, ServiceMaster Company and the board of trustees of Union Institute and University. She currently serves on the boards of directors of the Center for Digital Inclusion (www.cdi.org.br) and the Detroit Windsor Dance Academy.
She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in sociology from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Detroit, respectively.
Catalyst for Vision & Values
200 Riverfront Drive, Suite P27K
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Phone: (212) 333-2112
Detroit Office: (313) 396-3950
Cell: (646) 361-8369
Email: visval@aol.com or michelemariehunt@gmail.com