Joan Michelson

Joan Bryna Michelson, MBA is a highly accomplished business leader and award-winning, strategic, social impact, communications and ESG – environment, social, governance – leader and a dynamic public speaker who has addressed many events and conferences as an emcee, keynote speaker, moderator and panelist. Her specialties include leveraging ESG solutions and partnerships strategically for maximum benefit, helping organizations recruit innovative, diverse women, and helping these women thrive in their careers. She is based in the Washington D.C. area.

Top organizations who book high-profile speakers all the time said Michelson’s presentation was “the most engaging,” received the most questions of any speaker – and the most interesting questions, reflecting how much the audience was engaged.

Venues Michelson has spoken at include (some repeatedly): The Newseum, SXSW (Eco), ChangeNow 2023 Summit (Paris, France), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (U.S. Defense Department), UN COP26 (Scotland), Sun Valley Forum, GLG, Women Automotive 2022 Summit, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Naval Academy, 92nd Street Y, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, MOVE America: Mobility Reimagined; Clean Tech Open (SE), Small Business Administration, Greenbiz VERGE, Global Council for Science and the Environment, National Association of Women Business Owners, Executive Women in Government, Women Impacting Public Policy, and various other professional conferences, galas, award programs, chambers of commerce, corporate and university events. Michelson is in various speakers’ bureaus, including with the U.S. State Dept.

Michelson drove breakthrough results at Chrysler (in EVs), American Express and Deloitte in marketing communications leadership roles, and in other businesses, nonprofits and government agencies, as a consultant or interim executive. She is an instructor on ESG issues and communications, including to board members through Competent Boards programs.

A highly-accomplished journalist, Michelson has worked with top media organizations and hosts and produces the acclaimed Electric Ladies podcast (formerly known as Green Connections Radio), with over 400 episodes about innovation, leadership and ESG-related issues (including energy, climate and sustainability), featuring women experts. USA Today chose her show as one of the top six podcasts for business travelers. She writes regularly for Forbes on these issues and has also been published in: Harvard Business Review, HuffPost, New Thinking magazine; The New Economy magazine (distributed at the World Economic Forum), TheAtlantic.com, Greenbiz, WTOP.com, regional business journal columns; and various other media. She coproduced segments with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” ABC News, and “The Crusaders,” and television specials on NBC.