Hitting the roads, COVID-19 has changed a lot over the last few years. The world has witnessed serial lockdowns, changing people’s lives tectonically. Reconsidering their career paths and life goals due to an “anything can happen” mindset, millions of people worldwide resigned in 2021 to pursue more adventurous and flexible career paths.
We all know that life is all about change. Still, when we are making changes in our professional or personal lives, we must consult with people who have successfully overcome life challenges and are thriving successfully in their lives. Changing people’s lives using her career and life experience is Michele Lee Malo, Founder and CEO of Michele Lee Malo Consulting.
Once thought of herself as a “self-imposed sick person,” Michele went through many difficulties. But then she decided to fight against these limitations, spearheading the wheel of change. Using her freshly found victory, wisdom, and 20+ years of corporate experience with Fortune 500 companies, Michele has carved out her successful 10-year entrepreneurial journey. She put herself forth as a real success story before everyone and decided to give real experience-based consulting to those who want to make changes in their respective lives and career paths.
In an interview with Insights Success, Michele shared her entrepreneurial journey while educating about the Michele Lee Malo Consulting Platform and its offerings, helping many individuals effectively transform their personal and professional lives.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Michele, you are widely regarded as ‘The Change CEO‘. Please give us a brief overview of your inspiring personal and professional journey so far. What was your inspiration behind starting behind Michele Lee Malo Consulting?
I was the sickest 28-year-old you would have ever met, self-imposed sick. I threw out my back getting out of bed. How does that happen? It happens when your 5’5″ frame cannot support 310 lbs. I had to call into work fat. As I got my life back and lost 170lbs, I decided I was done making my bosses rich and missing out on family and friends.
I knew the weight loss struggle and knew I could help motivate others. I left my corporate career, which spanned over 20 years, working with amazing companies such as Kraft, Kellogg’s, and Barilla, to become a personal trainer to help others get their health back.
After working with clients that generally came from peers, I was spending more time helping with career change, business strategy, and health. I expanded my practice to include transition coaching and business launches.
Seeing my clients make changes and deal with the hard stuff makes my heart happy. I stand in a position of power, passion, and profit
Tell us more about your enterprise, its vision, and the key aspects of its stronghold in the business and brand development space?
Over the past couple of years, many of us have been dealt some hard blows, from sickness to losing jobs or even businesses. It is also the time to look at this as a blessing or gift.
Now is the time for reinvention, a chance to change the path in front of you—an opportunity to follow your passion and redefine your next chapter. The old rug was tattered and torn, stained but comfortable and safe.
I want to be the person who helps you buy that new rug—walking side by side with you to rediscover all your passions and to help you define your purpose. You have skills that are transferable, brandable, and viable. It is time to step into your greatness.
What are the distinct offerings of your company that are making an impact on your clients?
The following are the distinct offerings of Michele Lee Malo Consulting:
- Professional Branding Menu
- Resume and Cover Letter Development
If you are looking for career advancement or looking to follow your passion, it is imperative that you reposition your skills and your transferable skills so you can find your dream job. Plus, you need to get past the dreaded ATS system.
We will do a deep dive to get to the root of your passions and skills, and then I will rewrite your resume and cover letter to get your foot in the door. This is only step one.
- Social Media Menu
- LinkedIn Optimization
In our electronic world, social media presence is key to building your personal brand. This is crucial to building up credibility and trust. Social proof backs up your experience. I will do a full audit of your social media to ensure it is in line with your personal brand messaging. I will also do a full audit of your LinkedIn profile and optimize it based on your goals to promote profile views and position it as a powerful tool for your job search.
- Communication Menu
- Interview Preparation
The ability to express yourself confidently and succinctly is a top deciding factor when employers are looking to hire. I will take you through the process of writing your STAR stories that will take your experiences and break them down into the following: Situation, Tactics, Actions, and Results. You should have at least 5-7 STAR stories at the ready so you can tackle any interview question.
- Content Menu
Your content and message need to be heard. You have a message, but writing is not necessarily something you enjoy. I will take over the writing of your content, from newsletters to emails to social media posts. Taking your ideas and creating impactful marketing messages.
- Podcast Menu
- Sparking Results
Do you want your message to be heard by action takers and business titans? I am looking for successful business leaders to share their secret of what was the spark behind their business and leadership success. How are you living your life like your hair is on fire? Tell me what keeps the fire going within you and how you can inspire others to ignite.
- Networking Menu
- Mastermind Group
Your network and whom you surround yourself with will determine your net worth and success. Napoleon Hill showed us in “Think and Grow Rich” the power of the mastermind. If you are a CEO or business leader in the Phoenix area, Vistage members grow their companies 2.2x faster than non-Vistage members. In 2020, non-Vistage member revenue was reduced by 4.7%, while Vistage member revenue grew by 4.6%. I invite you to interview with me to be a part of my Vistage Group and get more information at www.vistage.com/chairs/michele.malo
Please tell us about your unique ‘The Success Menus Program.’ How do they help in bringing about positive transformations in the personal and professional lives of your clients?
I provide a safe place for my clients to dig deep into what is next for them in life. My proprietary in-take process gets to the root of the change that is needed, and then we come up with a customized strategy and action plan to get them to their next stage in life, in health, career, or a new business opportunity.
We build a personal branding plan that will enhance their professional and personal persona, designed to establish a connection with their target market and sphere of influence.
What is your opinion on the adoption of modern technologies like AI and ML in the brand, business, and personal development space? How have you integrated such technologies with your business operations?
This will be the future and needs to be a consideration in the marketing mix. It needs to be researched to make sure it works within the framework of the business and is not done just because everybody is doing it.
What is your view on practicing inclusivity and diversity at the workplace?
Diversity and inclusion are imperative to a business’s success. Differences in thinking, race, gender, age, etc., give light to different and creative ways to make business and corporate culture successful and progressive.
As an established industry leader, what would be your advice to the budding entrepreneurs and enthusiasts aspiring to venture into the professional and personal consultancy services industry?
Search out those that have been there before and seek their counsel. Continuous learning and self-development are not only crucial to mastering your craft but also keep you relevant in an ever-changing world. Have no fear.
How do you envision further strengthening Michele Malo Consulting’s stronghold in 2022 and beyond?
There are a lot of fun projects in 2022. I will be helping many clients with their personal branding and career search, helping in the repositioning of their skill sets to get them the career they have always dreamed of.
My new podcast, titled “Sparking Results,” will be launched soon. I will be interviewing corporate go-getters and entrepreneurs as they unveil the spark that launched their amazing results. My book is titled “Do it Anyway Lose 185 Lbs in One Day.”
