"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do" -- Henry Ford (founder of Ford Company).
As a child, speaking was not always clear nor easy for Michaela due to reliance on a trache that kept her breathing. Speaking became a sport for Michaela due to the obstacle of overcoming the barrier of being understood by her peers.
The ability to express and share her ideas in a concise manner demands skills that Michaela is still practicing on a daily basis, but she does not shy away from this despite the challenges she may face.
Michaela's compassion for presenting elaborative ideas and stories overrides any consternation and apprehension the task may present.
"Michaela was a dynamic and inspirational speaker! She wowed our entire team with her story of personal triumph. Michaela was a delight to work with. She was super professional and very responsive. I highly recommend her as an energizing and uplifting public speaker!"-- Kathryne Auerback, MA, MBA, CEO, Movin' Out, Inc.
Michaela spoke at the Movin' Out companywide retreat in May of 2023. She passionately engaged with the staff and team by sharing her insightful perspective on her disadvantages that led her to accept her disability without shame.
Michaela created and hosted a series called 'Unconditionally Confident: Accepting Your Disability Without Allowing It To Define You' at the Monona Public Library.
These are interactive workshops that dive into redirecting your narrative, mindset, and actions to fulfill your dreams within your capabilities.
To learn more about the series, click here or the Unconditionally Confident Tab within the menu.
Michaela spoke on how to turn disadvantages into advantages at the SWIS District Optimist Conference. She won a scholarship towards her education from this speech in April of 2015.
Between 2012 and 2015 Michaela participated in Forensics, which was a speaking club, at Monona Grove high school. In 2015, Michaela made it to State, the Forensics meet was held at University of Wisconsin campuses.