Michele Cortese

Background

About Michele Cortese

Experienced, enthusiastic, and creative Nonprofit Executive and Social Entrepreneur. Formally trained and experienced Interim Executive. Consultant and coach. For over 27 years, Michele has successfully led and supported staff through successful growth and multiple transitions, assuring financial and organizational stability, with a focus on delivering quality, on inclusion and belonging, on transparency for Board and staff, and on supporting people to grow into new roles that growth and transition invite and demand. Michele has a positive, motivational and consensus-building style and is adept at helping teams integrate competing values and navigate the uncertainty that often accompanies complex problem-solving. Her skills include conflict resolution, team-building, government contracts, process improvement, program development, aligning and operationalizing values across programs, coaching, strategic planning, and board development. Despite her experience, Michele remains an avid student of management and leadership. She enjoys managing multiple projects simultaneously, remaining nimble, and supporting people across disciplines and differences with authenticity and curiosity. Sweet spots: coaching new managers and founding CEO's. In 2023, Michele completed the Interim Executive Director/CEO training at the Support Center for Nonprofit Management in New York City and is currently enrolled in coaching training at the Co-Active Institute. She is an attorney, licensed to practice in New York. In addition to helping goal-oriented people thrive, her interests include voting rights, racial equity, food and health justice and women's issues.