The way you lead yourself changes everything.

Leadership isn't just about guiding others. It's about taking responsibility for your own growth, trusting yourself through uncertainty, and having the courage to do things differently.

Because the kind of leader you become starts with the choices you make today.

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Photo by Kalen Jesse Photography

I work with women who are ready to become stronger leaders, starting with how they lead themselves.

Maybe you're managing a team and questioning whether you're doing it well. Maybe you're building a business and struggling to trust your own decisions. Or maybe you're ready to step into a bigger leadership role, but something keeps holding you back.

I'm not here to hand you a formula for becoming a great leader or tell you who you should be. I'm here to help you get honest about what's working, what isn't, and what you're willing to do differently.

Together, we'll explore the habits, beliefs, and behaviors shaping how you show up, so you can build confidence in your decisions, trust your own judgment, and become more intentional about the influence you have on others.

I'll support you, encourage you, and when needed, call you on your bullshit.

There is room here for uncertainty, fear, and changing your mind, but there is also an expectation that you're willing to take ownership of what happens next.

Because becoming a better leader isn't about having all the answers. It's about being willing to grow into the responsibility of leading yourself and others.

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Work With Michelle

Becoming a stronger leader means learning to make difficult decisions, communicate clearly, navigate conflict, and recognize how your own habits and assumptions influence the people around you. It also means being willing to examine your own behavior instead of expecting everyone else to change.

Whether you're working on your own leadership, developing the people on your team, or looking for a speaker who will challenge your audience to think differently, there are a few ways we can work together.

1-on-1 Coaching

For women who want to become stronger, more confident leaders but recognize that something is holding them back.


Leadership brings decisions, difficult conversations, competing priorities, and moments when you question your own judgment. Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or preparing for your next opportunity, how you lead yourself influences everything else.

Together, we'll examine the patterns and behaviors getting in your way, strengthen your confidence and self-trust, and work through the messy middle of making meaningful changes.

You'll have honest conversation, encouragement, and someone willing to challenge you, with the expectation that you'll put what we uncover into practice.

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Leadership Training

For organizations developing new managers, strengthening experienced leaders, and building leadership skills across their teams.

Strong leadership shows up in everyday interactions: how people communicate expectations, handle difficult conversations, make decisions, build trust, and take responsibility for their impact on others.

Through customized workshops, multi-session engagements, and leadership programs, I work with emerging leaders, people managers, and established teams to strengthen these skills, recognize habits that undermine their effectiveness, and apply what they learn to real situations at work.

The goal isn't simply to leave a training feeling inspired. It's to help people lead more effectively, whether they're responsible for an entire department or influencing others without a formal leadership title.

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Keynote Speaking

Keynotes that don’t just inspire, they shift how people think and act.

For conferences, leadership events, and organizations that want audiences to leave with more than a temporary burst of motivation.

Drawing on more than 20 years of real-world leadership experience, I blend personal stories, humor, and practical insights to help people recognize where they have influence, take greater ownership of their decisions, and understand how their everyday actions affect others.

Audiences leave with practical ways to communicate more intentionally, take initiative when it matters most, and approach challenges with greater confidence and personal responsibility.

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I'm Michelle Gruening, and I believe great leadership starts with how we lead ourselves.

For more than 20 years, I've led teams, developed leaders, and built programs inside organizations ranging from Walt Disney World and Starbucks to SaaS companies and startups. I've navigated difficult decisions, managed competing priorities, built a business, changed careers, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and learned firsthand that leadership rarely comes with the certainty we wish it did.

Those experiences have shaped how I approach leadership today. I've seen how much our own habits, assumptions, and insecurities influence the way we make decisions, communicate with others, and handle responsibility. And I've learned that becoming a stronger leader often requires us to examine ourselves before we can effectively lead anyone else.

That belief runs through everything I do. Whether I'm coaching a woman who's stepping into greater responsibility, helping a team navigate the challenges of working together, or speaking to an audience, my goal is to help people become more aware of their influence and more intentional about how they use it.

I bring curiosity, encouragement, openness, and a willingness to challenge people when they need it. I don't believe leadership development is about becoming someone new. It's about recognizing what you're capable of, taking responsibility for your growth, and having the courage to do things differently.

Because leadership isn't a title. It's a choice you get to make every day.

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Michelle Gruening, owners of MG Coaching, wearing a teal sweater and black pants, sitting on a chair with her legs crossed, smiling in an indoor setting with wooden walls and blank whiteboards in the background.

Photo by Kalen Jesse Photography

What clients and audiences are saying:

  • Real Transformation, Real Results

    Working with Michelle was one of the most important turning points in my journey as an author and entrepreneur. When I met her, I was stuck in indecision and perfectionism. Within our first session, she helped me see exactly where I was holding myself back and offered the clarity and permission I needed to move forward.

    Michelle has a remarkable gift for supporting female entrepreneurs. She sees your potential, names the truth with compassion, and helps you move past the fears that keep you small. If you are ready for real transformation, she is the coach you want in your corner!

    Renee King, Canvas Interiors; Author of Fractal Courage

  • Engaging and Actionable Frameworks

    “Michelle has a gift for making big ideas feel totally doable! The examples in her talk were real and relatable. If you’re growing a business or just navigating a new season in life, Michelle’s framework is GOLD! She’s the kind of speaker who makes you laugh, reflect, and leave with actual tools to put into action!”

    Lizzy Moffett, Lizzy Moffett Designs

  • Practical + Transformative Guidance

    “I have been so lucky to work with Michelle Gruening over the last year and a half. From the very first session, Michelle created a warm, welcoming environment that made me feel comfortable and understood. Her approach is compassionate, yet highly practical—helping me uncover behaviors about myself while giving strategies to achieve my goals.

    As a small business owner, it is so nice to have someone in your corner to listen, question and devise a plan. Changing thinking patterns and actions is difficult enough to do by yourself, but to know you have another viewpoint is so amazing! Whether it was goal-setting, time management, or overcoming self-doubt, I always left our sessions feeling like I had a clear path forward.

    My time with Michelle is invaluable and has gotten rid of stressful situations that I found myself in over and over. I have received such great support and am continuing to grow, both personally and as a business owner.”

    Renee Johnson, Orangetheory Fitness Franchise Owner

  • 5x Business Growth

    “Earlier this year I decided to invest in myself. Michelle is worth every penny. My personal growth this year has been extraordinary and it has spilled over into every part of my life, even my business. I have grown my client base five times what it was this time last year. And the best part is, I can handle the growth because I have grown personally. I’ve become stronger in boundary setting, self-awareness, and goal accomplishing. I’m so thankful for her.”

    Lisa Leanne, Owner of Esthetics with Love Salon and Spa

  • Increased Confidence + Productivity

    “MG Coaching has been such an asset to my business journey. Michelle is knowledgeable, professional and truly cares about my growth as a business owner. She has guided me through the peaks + pits of entrepreneurship, while providing me with the proper tools to move forward in the future. Michelle has pushed me out of my comfort zone (many times) both personally & professionally by encouraging me to set goals and hold myself accountable, all while being intentional and enjoying the process of entrepreneurship. My confidence is at an all-time high because Michelle has helped me develop skills to help take my business to the next level. My profits + productivity have grown so much over the past year and that is truly a reflection of MG Coaching’s guidance and support.”

    Katy Brosious, Owner of King Interior Designs

  • Reclaimed Control + Focus

    “Working with Michelle has been extremely transformative and restorative for how I view myself and the world around me. After enduring some major life changes, I no longer viewed myself as the person in charge of my life. I didn’t feel confident in my choices and I felt stuck and ambivalent about my next steps. Michelle met me without judgment, listened to me, and guided me through understanding what I really wanted out of my life. Having accountability with other people who are aspiring to improve themselves offers comfort and reassurance that I am making progress. Now, I’m pursuing a career path that I want, I’m setting boundaries, and I’m focused on self-care. It’s been a 180 from how I started the year!”

    Chauntée Clark, Fintech + Risk Management Consultant

  • Personal and Professional Focus

    “I joined MG Coaching looking for professional growth and training. Not only did it deliver on that promise, but it also exceeded my expectations. Michelle's coaching has helped me find my focus both in my personal and professional life. I better understand my strengths and how to use them. I feel supported, heard, and challenged to always take the next step in my journey for growth. This has been a reset for my frame of mind and my vision. I feel more at peace and centered, which has allowed me greater growth both personally and professionally. I would strongly recommend MG Coaching’s training to anyone who is looking for growth, guidance, and support in any facet of life.”

    Stephanie Arthur, Creative Works

  • Clarity + Systems Implementation

    “Between her hearing my words and repeating them back to me so I slow down and hear myself, books she’s recommended, the accountability, and mindset shifts that were so necessary, my mindset has made a huge change. She’s helped me hone in on and implement systems that I desperately needed, and she’s helped me see what I need and what I actually don’t.

    She’s one of the reasons I’m still an agent and a successful [real estate] agent. I truly can’t recommend her enough. I cant imagine anyone working with her who doesn’t improve and reach their goals. She really is that good!”

    Ruthie Graham, eXp Realty

  • Prioritized Energy + Growth

    “MG Coaching’s training is not just a conversation, there is work every week to push ourselves, our boundaries, and grow our skills and mindset for our growth journey. We are held accountable for doing the work and I have more focus and clarity across the important things, and I know where to place my energy.”

    Shawn Hackett, Capabilities Lead + CRM at Conagra Brands

Working with me is simple.

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Step One

Book A Discovery Call

We'll talk about what you're looking for, the challenges you're facing, and what you want to accomplish. Whether you're exploring 1on1 coaching, leadership training for your team, or a keynote for your next event, we'll figure out whether I'm the right person to help and what working together could look like.

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Step Two

Make A Plan

If we're a good fit, we'll decide on the right approach for your goals, whether that's a coaching engagement, a customized training program, or a keynote presentation.

We'll establish expectations, agree on the details, and get everything in place to move forward.

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Step Three

Put the Work Into Practice

This is where our work together begins. Through coaching, training, or speaking, I'll bring practical insights and real-world leadership experience to help you approach challenges differently.

You'll leave with greater confidence, stronger leadership skills, and practical tools you can put to work immediately.

schedule a discovery call to learn more