The seminal moment that changed the trajectory of my life was leaving the corporate world and starting my own organization. In that moment, I became free to create the company, impact, and life I longed for. What that level of freedom, creativity, and accountability afforded me was creating something far richer and transformational - both for myself and others - than I could have ever imagined.

The second seminal moment was moving out of Chicago to Palm Springs, Ca. Leaving an urban environment to live on sacred Indian land, surrounded by mountains and sunshine, while embodying a slower paced life within a diverse, inclusive community has been rejuvenating.

Last, perhaps my deepest "what I've been up to since I've graduated" is the embodiment of a consciousness shift. Earlier in life, I predominately lived my life focused on "doing." Now, I predominately live my life "being present and mindful."

The first day of school was certainly memorable. A police officer met me as I stepped off the bus at Addison and Western. He personally escorted me to my first class Biology through the crowds of angry parents protesting and jeering. When I arrived to my classroom, I was the only female student in class.

The Biology teacher was female and rather than having some sensitivity to the stressful situation she added to it. She spent the first 10 minutes of class talking about how girls were going to be the demise of Lane Tech and that this was the saddest day of her work life. During her speech a Channel 7 News reporter had a camera on me. I was spotlighted on the local news that night. Certainly not the usual memory someone has for a first day of high school.

I find my work to be deeply meaningful; so being a catalyst for an individuals transformational growth and development is hands-down my greatest joy. I also enjoy a deep spiritual practice of mindfulness and meditation, love being in nature, reading, and spending intimate time with family and close friends.

- One of the first female traders on the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
- University of Chicago psychotherapist and PhD candidate in Human Behavior/psychology.
- Founder and CEO of Jody Michael Associates, 1996.
- Being recognized as a pioneer and thought leader in the field of Executive Coaching. Founder and CEO of Jody Michael Associates, 1996.
- Final Four in Global Venture Entrepreneurial Start-Up Challenge: "Career Cheetah."
- "Wall Street Journal" best selling book: "Leading Lightly: Lower Your Stress, Think with Clarity, and Lead with Ease."

I attribute attending a predominately male high school enabled me to build a solid foundation of resilience, comfort and confidence early on. That foundation enabled me to intimately and comfortably work with very powerful men in business. Given that I work almost exclusively with top Fortune 500 C-suite leaders (the vast majority of those positions are held by men), those attributes have proven to be quite valuable.