Expertise got you here.

Lasting leadership requires more.

Michelle Cantor

Leadership & Team Development

Most people spend years building expertise in something specific.

Finance. Marketing. Operations.

Almost no one invests the same effort in learning how to lead.

Application creates the results.

That gap doesn't belong to one career moment — it shows up for the first-time manager, for the director inheriting a dysfunctional team, and for the executive fifteen years in who hits something new.

I'm Michelle Cantor, a leadership and team development coach and consultant.

My clients are good at their work.

I help them get just as good at leading it — how to show up, communicate, navigate challenges, and lead with confidence.

Awareness is where this work starts, not where it ends.

You might already know what needs to change, or you might only know that something does. Both are enough to start. Neither one is the finish.

For over 25 years I've helped worked with organizations through change — sometimes as a consultant, sometimes as a coach, most often both at once… which is why I know the work doesn't stop at clarity.

Self-knowledge starts the movement.

VOLAR — verb, Spanish. To fly.

Flying isn't floating. It takes lift, direction, and something to push against. So does this work.

Coaching

One-to-one coaching for leaders at any level and any stage.

We start with how you show up — your behaviors, your strengths, and when they help or get in your way. Then we build the tools and techniques for the parts nobody prepared you for.

See How Coaching Works

Team Development

Assessment-based programs for teams that are technically excellent and functionally stuck.

Everything DiSC™. The Five Behaviors™. Multi-generational workforce. Busting Biases. Same problems as coaching, just at a different scale.

View Programs

One leader or an entire team.

Either way, it starts with a conversation.

Schedule a Conversation

Client Testimonials

“Michelle Cantor is an exceptional executive coach who helps senior leaders stay aligned to organizational strategy while reinforcing the critical role that culture, personal brand, listening, and thoughtful leadership play in achieving business objectives. Her ability to listen deeply, ask insightful questions, and challenge conventional thinking enables leaders to sharpen their decision-making and maintain a growth mindset during periods of change and complexity. Through her coaching, executives gain greater selfawareness, strategic clarity,and the confidence to lead their organizations forward while continuing to grow professionally and personally.”

Debra Sell
Regional Vice President of Stores at Meijer
“Michelle was an amazing career advocate for me. Our meetings helped me distinguish how to communicate better and tap into my strengths. Her guidance has helped me land in a role that I thrive in. I continue to use the tools I learned to this day.”

Giuliana C
Instructional Developer, Ford Motor Company
“Michelle’s facilitation empowered our staff by allowing this diverse group of people to work together to identify bottlenecks, agree on solutions, and implement the changes. Staff are now communicating more often and more effectively with improved accountability.”

Paul Blatt
CEO, Gesher Human Services
“Michelle was an incredible coach, guiding me to understand how to leverage my strengths to meet my goals, and lean on other resources that complimented my strengths.”

Susanna Borgelt
Senior Manager of Partnerships & Development
“Michelle is a tremendous asset to Living Arts. Her ability to synthesize information quickly and provide insightful suggestions has provided tremendous value. Her innate demeanor as a coach and mentor is palpable upon introduction. Michelle’s deep understanding of complex systems and people’s motivations are her “secret sauce.”

Alissa Novoselick
CFOO, Empowerment Plan (Former Executive Director of Living Arts)
"Michelle’s knowledge of the work, including meeting facilitation, strategic planning, and the all-around DEI space, has added tremendous value to our team. Additionally, she has demonstrated the right presence to lead amongst organization and sector leaders in our region."

Dustin McClellan
Founder & CEO, Pontiac Community Foundation
“Michelle Cantor has provided her coaching and consulting expertise to facilitate webinars for our organization. No matter the topic, she facilitates an impactful discussion that enables participants to feel comfortable, be honest, and shift their perspectives. We have received exceptional feedback."

Amber Martin
Director of Member Relations, The Society for Diversity
“Since Michelle’s approach has leadership being an active and critical part of the entire process, our leadership team is already embedding a more inclusive and equitable mindset into everything we do.”

Linda Lutz
CFO, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
“We had not done a staff training encompassing everyone from C-Suite team members to facility staff before this time with Michelle. Many of these team members have never partaken in such a presentation before. The staff walked away from its interaction with Michelle feeling good about the time spent, the lessons learned and optimistic about how we could utilize the takeaways to further lift our community.”

Jason Plotkin
Executive Director, Temple Israel