About Michelle Sherbun

A StoryKeeper

OnPurpose Leadership Coach  |  Founder, The Leadership Design Alliance  |  Founder, Sister Wisdom Circles

Michelle Sherbun is not your typical leadership coach. A classically trained vocalist and actor, Michelle discovered early that the deepest art of performance isn’t in the voice that projects outward, but in the ear that listens inward. That discovery became the foundation of everything she does.

At the heart of Michelle’s work is a simple, radical belief: her clients already know what they need. As a coach, she describes her role as simply getting people out of their own way — creating the conditions for transformation that is not imposed from the outside but released from within. She calls herself a StoryKeeper. She listens deeply as each client’s story unfolds, helping them find the unique gifts that pull them forward, the puzzle pieces that begin to fit together, and the courage to explore what can truly change them. Her gift is non-judgment, and through it, obstacles become possibilities.

Michelle’s devotion to women’s leadership is both personal and enduring. For six years, she has led Sister Wisdom Circles, a women’s leadership mastermind community built on the belief that women lead most powerfully when they lead together — with authenticity, intention, and heart. In this space, women across sectors and stages of life find their voices, sharpen their vision, and step more fully into who they are meant to be.

As Founder and President of Michelle Sherbun, LLC and The Leadership Design Alliance, Michelle brings more than 40 years of experience as a management consultant, coach, and facilitator to a diverse range of clients — nonprofit leaders, corporate executives, and emerging professionals. She is an accredited leadership coach, certified TeamClock consultant, and trained ToP Facilitator, with a particular passion for bringing diverse leaders together around ideas that drive transformative results.

A recognized voice in her field, Michelle is a past president of the AFP Chicago chapter, a recipient of both the Benjamin Franklin Award (2016) and the AFP Chicago President’s Award (2017), and a member of the International Coaching Federation. She is a published writer, accomplished speaker, and sought-after trainer, with work spanning fundraising, leadership development, and organizational transformation.

With the soul of an artist, the fearlessness of an activist, and the wisdom of someone who has sat with thousands of unfolding stories, Michelle Sherbun believes — wholeheartedly — in the vast potential of our shared humanity. She is honored to bring that belief to every circle she enters.

But wait! There’s more! Michelle is also…

  • president of Michelle Sherbun, LLC - an OnPurpose Leadership Coach, whose mission is to strengthen leaders across sectors

  • a seasoned management consultant with more than 40 years of experience

  • an accredited leadership coach, certified TeamClock consultant, and trained ToP Facilitator

  • a leader of numerous management and fund development workshops

  • a published writer, accomplished speaker, and sought-after trainer who has covered topics in fundraising, marketing, and personal and organizational development

Credentials and Affiliations

What Clients Are Saying About Michelle’s Leadership Coaching

  • BARBARA CARNEY, Development Director, Garfield Park Conservatory

    “

    Michelle is a wonderfully talented, insightful advisor who understands the complex realities of the workplace and the fragility and strength of the human heart. Most of all, she is open, honest and helps others find answers to the sometimes hard to ask—and frequently harder to answer— questions that we all end up asking ourselves at various points in our personal and professional lives.

    ”

  • KATE BOUSUM, CFRE, Director of Advancement Regarding the Sister Wisdom Mastermind:

    “

    On another note, thank you for last night. I love this group! These women are incredible, truly and not only do they inspire me and showcase the best of our profession, but they are real and authentic and raw and honest and showing me every month that my version of harried and stressed isn’t unusual or strange, but everyone is struggling with their challenges. AND, I think my biggest learning, that there are challenges, unique and hard and wonderful, at every single stage. Thank you for allowing me to be part of it.

    ”

  • MARION CAMERON, CEO, Sipi Metals

    “

    We engaged Michelle to help build better cohesion of purpose amongst our leadership team. We also wanted to encourage the expression of different perspectives and opinions without the fear of ending in deadlock. Michelle has very good skills in developing trust and rapport across a multitude of personalities. Through individual and group interactions, she helped illuminate where dysfunctionality needed to be addressed head-on. She has also helped strengthen the team’s sense of accountability. We feel the work she has done and continues to do is greatly contributing to our team’s growth and success.

    ”

  • DINA DONOHUE, Management Consultant

    “

    Michelle is highly skilled in guiding and coaching executive-level team members. Excelling in deep listening and conversational intelligence, she coached our leaders to improve their leadership, self-confidence, and self-awareness - guiding us toward better thinking, decision-making and business performance.

    “

  • GEORGE ABBOTT, President and CEO, Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.

    “

    Michelle Sherbun is insightful, experienced and positive. She is focused, driven and dedicated. Her energy and awareness, along with her vision and collaborative style will prove motivating and empowering to anyone seeking guidance, mentoring or coaching. I have had the pleasure of working with Michelle and I can attest that she is an impressive and accomplished leader. You will find her refreshing, as she is not afraid to use nontraditional techniques to find creative solutions to just about any problem confronting an organization, its board and its executive leadership.

    “

  • JOE SKVARA, President, JS Consulting

    “

    Michelle is a truly remarkable colleague who has a special ability to understand the needs of organizations and how to communicate them to the philanthropic community. Her coaching experiences provide a welcome bonus for working with nonprofit and other executive leaders.

    “