With nearly three decades of experience as an executive search consultant, Michelle has led leadership searches across a wide range of industries and functions. She brings a fair and equitable lens to her work and partners with clients to create a thorough, inclusive, and transparent process from start to completion.

As a specialist serving the mission-driven and social impact sectors, Michelle has successfully completed searches for executives at the highest tiers, including CEO, President & Executive Director, Board of Directors/Trustees, Chief Impact and Strategy Officer, Chief Financial Officer, other fundraising leadership, program management, and a wide range of other key positions.

Her clients are nationwide and include major clients dedicated to philanthropy, social justice, education, food justice, social services, AAPI community and issues, arts and culture, children and family services, LGBTQ community and issues, environment, and health-related issues, as well as prominent educational institutions such as research and private universities, small liberal arts colleges, and independent college preparatory schools.

Michelle has led searches for The Asian American Foundation, Ballmer Foundation, Weingart Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, California Community Foundation, California Wellness Foundation, Kataly Foundation, and James Irvine Foundation, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, Densho, Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Community Partners, LA Family Housing, Global Fund for Women, Futures Without Violence, Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Callen-Lorde Community Center, California Immigrant Policy Center, Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP), Thousand Currents, Little Tokyo Service Center, Stanford University, UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley.

Most recently Michelle was a Partner with Heidrick & Struggles, one of the top four global executive search firms where she was a core member of the Education, Nonprofit, and Social Enterprise practice. Michelle began her career in executive search in 1996 with a boutique retained executive search firm based in Los Angeles serving education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and corporations nationwide. She established the firm’s practice exclusively serving education and nonprofit clients and ultimately became Vice President and Education & Nonprofit Practice Leader. Later, she worked for a national search firm where she opened the Southern California office dedicated to the education and nonprofit sectors and strengthened that firm’s brand in the western region.

Michelle received a BBA in Management from California State University, Northridge.

Education

BBA, Management
California State University, Northridge