Welcome back to the Attract & Stand Out podcast!

In this episode, I’m chatting with the incredible Michele Risa, CEO of Collaborative Solutions. Michele takes us on a journey—from her early days in the corporate world to launching her own business back in 1991 (before entrepreneurship was even a buzzword!). She opens up about what it really means to follow your heart, trust yourself, and build a business that reflects who you are at your core.

We dive into so many powerful topics—why collaboration always wins over competition, the real work behind diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how trust is the true foundation of great leadership. Michele also shares stories from working internationally and offers such grounded wisdom on staying resilient and growing with intention over the long haul.

If you're a leader who wants to make an impact by showing up as your full, authentic self—you’re going to love this conversation.

Here’s what we cover:

00:00 – Welcome & guest intro
00:30 – Michele’s leap from corporate to entrepreneurship
02:56 – Why collaboration is the future
04:50 – How DEI creates stronger businesses
08:20 – What it takes to lead with authenticity
11:47 – Michele’s biggest lessons from decades in business
18:45 – Navigating challenges with resilience
26:58 – Rapid fire Qs + final takeaways

Let’s dive in!