She spent over two decades as a senior leader within Disney, Universal Studios, and the NFL leveraging technology to improve the human experience. Michelle brings her technical expertise and leadership acumen to C-Suite executives as
they consider how to tackle their toughest challenges with the team they have, the technology available, and the leadership they possess. Her goal is to empower leaders to achieve the optimal outcome of any endeavor.
Today, Michelle uses the wisdom of what she has learned, built, and been a part of in creating and leveraging technology for the human experience as an advisor, speaker, and consultant. She is dedicated to advising organizations and executives about how to maximize their technology for the best customer experiences and the greatest gain for market share.
In 2022, Michelle joined Evercore, a leading investment banking firm, as a Senior Advisor in its M&A advisory business.
Michelle was responsible for the league's technology strategy, shared service delivery and management of the league's technology activities. In this unique operating role, she drove digital transformation, launched new businesses, and recently led the league through the 2020 virtual draft and the 2020 Season during a global pandemic. She was responsible for football technology and partnered with Football Operations defining NFL's Game of the Future. She was executive sponsor of the Women's Interactive Network.
Michelle's strong technology, operations, marketing, and financial background make her both a strategic and operationally insightful member of the boards on which she serves. She is also an active investor and advisor to private companies through private equity and venture capital.
Michelle was responsible for Destination Disney - a company-wide strategic project to transform the company's marketing and sales processes, implement Customer Relationship Management, and replace mission critical sales and service systems at Walt Disney World. Destination Disney serves as the platform for future growth of Disney Parks & Resorts worldwide.
She was responsible for the innovation, oversight, and leadership of technology at Universal Orlando Resort, including Universal Studios theme park, the Islands of Adventure theme park, and the 30-acre CityWalk entertainment complex. Michelle was part of the Senior Leadership team which is responsible for design and launch of Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
She led the technology for the acquisition of competitive energy businesses and the ultimate merger with Exelon. In her role at Constellation, she was the key transformation agent driving change to systems, processes, and data to enable consumer energy choice.
Michelle launched new businesses at Destination
Properties—a high-end second home communities and
a subsidiary of Centex Homes.
Michelle had clients in media, telecommunication, real estate, and healthcare.
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In 2022 Michelle joined Evercore a leading investment banking firm as a Senior Advisor in the firm's M&A advisory business.
Michelle was responsible for the league's technology strategy, shared service delivery and management of the league's technology activities. In this unique operating role, she drove digital transformation, launched new businesses, and recently led the league through the 2020 virtual draft and the 2020 Season during a global pandemic. She was responsible for football technology and partnered with Football Operations defining NFL's Game of the Future. She was executive sponsor of the Women's Interactive Network.
Michelle's strong technology, operations, marketing, and financial background make her both a strategic and operationally insightful member of the boards on which she serves. She is also an active investor and advisor to private companies through private equity and venture capital.
Michelle was responsible for Destination Disney - a company-wide strategic project to transform the company's marketing and sales processes, implement Customer Relationship Management, and replace mission critical sales and service systems at Walt Disney World. Destination Disney serves as the platform for future growth of Disney Parks & Resorts worldwide.
She was responsible for the innovation, oversight, and leadership of technology at Universal Orlando Resort, including Universal Studios theme park, the Islands of Adventure theme park, and the 30-acre CityWalk entertainment complex. Michelle was part of the Senior Leadership team which is responsible for design and launch of Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
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She led the technology for the acquisition of competitive energy businesses and the ultimate merger with Exelon. In her role at Constellation, she was the key transformation agent driving change to systems, processes, and data to enable consumer energy choice.
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Michelle launched new businesses at Destination Properties—a high-end second home communities and a subsidiary of Centex Homes.
Michelle had clients in media, telecommunication, real estate, and healthcare.
MICHELLE IS A FREQUENT KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND MEDIA COMMENTATOR ON MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY, DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN SPORTS, MEDIA, AND LARGE ENTERPRISES.
Her recent keynotes include Information Week, Extreme Connect, LiveWorx, and Microsoft Ignite. She has provided on-air commentary for a wide range of media outlets including CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg TV,
Morning Joe, Good Day New York, The Huffington Post, and has been a guest on Amy Poehler's "Smart Girls". She is a member of the CNBC Technology Executive Council.
MICHELLE IS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
She holds a bachelors degree in accounting from Auburn University and a master's degree in business administration from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park Florida.
She is a smart growth leader - grows herself to grow her people to grow her organization
I first connected with Michelle nearly a decade ago. She had recently started at the NFL and we honored her on our Forbes" Forty Women over 40 to Watch. I have subsequently featured her in my Harvard Business Press books, Disrupt Yourself, Build an A Team, and Smart Growth. She not only pulled off the feat that was the NFLs virtual draft in 2020, but has helped orchestrate huge technological advancement at the NFL, by inspiring and elevating her team. She is a smart growth leader: grows herself to grow her people to grow her organization. She's a real-life Madame Secretary. Only it's not politics. It's football.
Whitney Johnson
WSJ Bestselling Author, Smart Growth, Top #10 Management Thinker, Thinkers50
Michelle Is An Amazing Leader!
During the time we worked together at Constellation, she was a champion for change. She brought ideas to the table that were cutting edge. Michelle’s focus on innovative thinking and collaboration were cornerstones of her IT strategy. Michelle is also a fabulous mentor. She takes a personal interest in the people she works with. She quickly assesses strengths and areas of development within those around her and uses that to provide opportunities. Michelle is a true leadership role model.
Roslyn BROWN
VP, IT Corporate Systems and Services
Constellation
Michelle brings tremendous insight, passion and leadership to her work
An extremely effective executive. She has the rare ability to truly bridge the worlds of business and technology.
Howard Tiersky
CEO
FROM, The Digital Transformation Agency
She has a unique ability to link business strategy to technology solutions while keeping our guest experience at the center of all processes and solutions
Michelle is a true change agent with a passion for solving complex problems with solutions requiring the integration of people, process, and technology. At Disney she was an innovator, a team builder, and a well respected member of the executive team. She led one of the largest technology transformation projects ever undertaken in theme parks and had a unique ability to link business strategy to technology solutions while keeping our guest experience at the center of all processes and solutions.
Lee Cockerell
Executive Vice President (Ret.)
Walt Disney World
A true agent of change and innovation, and a pleasure to work with in any situation no matter how challenging
Rarely have I encountered a senior level IT leader that understood the transformative power of IT for improving Marketing capability as well as Michelle, and the conviction to take on the really tough enterprise-wide projects that matter. A true agent of change and innovation, and a pleasure to work with in any situation no matter how challenging.
If you have a chance to work with her you'll see what I mean...
Algernon Callier
Head of Business Development
Jiffy.ai
From the first in her family to go to college to the first female C level executive at the NFL, Michelle's story is a real-life Sweet Home Alabama meets Working Girl under the bright lights on the biggest stage of professional sports. Her journey was a long and winding one focused on breaking stereotypes, pursuing goals, and being resilient. Transforming herself along with some of America's largest brands -Disney, Universal and the NFL, her book is a transformation roadmap, for your life or for your organization.
Michelle McKenna is a superstar! Her book will be a must read for anyone looking to drive transformation in their organization or in their life.
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