I believe women deserve to have their cake…
Stop settling for success that’s unsatisfying.
You've worked too hard to settle for a life that looks shiny on the outside but feels hollow on the inside.
I know because I lived it.
It started with a cartwheel and a gut feeling.
I always thought I was going to be an actress when I grew up. I went to school for theater, moved to New York City, performed in regional theaters - I did everything 'right.'
One day I was literally cartwheeling across a room at a callback for a national tour of ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ when it hit me:
This wasn’t what I wanted anymore..
It had been brewing for a while — the awareness that I was evolving — but the part of me that had committed so fiercely to this dream didn’t want to let go. I worried people would see me as a failure, that they’d think I couldn’t cut it.
And letting go of that dream was painful.
It’s hard to release something you’ve told the world — and yourself — you’ve always wanted.
But even in the grief, I sensed it was the right choice. That moment was the beginning of learning what it really means to change course in a world that tells us to keep performing the same role we’ve always played.
What followed were years of impressive job titles in entertainment — working on hit shows like Avenue Q, Grease: Live!, and The New Adventures of Old Christine, climbing every ladder I could find.
From the outside, I looked successful.
Inside, I was constantly second-guessing myself, terrified of making mistakes, convinced everyone else had figured out something I hadn’t.
I felt like I was performing a role that didn’t fit.
When I finally stopped looking outside myself for validation and started trusting my own instincts, everything shifted.
Why I do this work
When I became a coach, I kept hearing the same story from women across industries: Smart. Ambitious. Successful — and exhausted.
They’d done everything “right,” but felt stuck, disconnected, and unsure what it was all for.
And just like me, many were afraid to let go of the version of success they’d worked so hard for — even when it no longer fit.
Because letting go can feel like failure.
But it isn’t. It’s growth.
That’s when I realized: we’ve been taught that external validation equals success. It doesn’t.
There’s another way.
What I stand for
Success isn’t just about titles, paychecks, or gold stars.
It’s about how your life feels — and the principles that guide you along the way.
These are the values that shape how I live, lead, and coach:
Spark – That inner fire that fuels fulfillment. Being lit up by how you spend your time.
Courage – Choosing bold action over perfection. Moving forward even when fear tags along.
Ownership – Taking radical responsibility for your choices, your values, and your voice.
Connection – To yourself, your values, and the people you lead. True leadership doesn’t happen in isolation.
Growth – Becoming more of who you already are, layer by layer — not endless hustle or gold-star chasing.
These are the lens I bring into every coaching session, workshop, and keynote. If they resonate with you, chances are we’ll do great work together.
Why clients call me their “secret weapon”
Because I call bullshit when you forget who you are and need a quick reminder. I hold up the mirror, ask the uncomfortable questions, and give you practical tools to quiet imposter syndrome, set boundaries, and take bold, values-aligned action.
Forget work-life balance – balance is a myth that makes women feel like there’s something else they’re not succeeding at. I believe in work-life integration: building a career and life that work together instead of pulling you apart.
Because pretending you can perfectly balance everything is exhausting - and it's not working.
This isn't about blowing up your life.
It's about creating a career and life that actually feel like yours.
Sometimes that means holding on.
Sometimes it means letting go.
Don’t settle for crumbs.
You deserve the whole damn cake — clarity, fulfillment, and a career that feels as good as it looks.
The “Official” Bio
Michelle Pollack is an executive leadership coach, speaker, and former entertainment executive who helps high-achieving women and human-centered organizations ditch the burnout, rewrite the rules, and lead with clarity, confidence, and self-trust.
Since starting her coaching practice in 2016, Michelle has helped more than 150 leaders across law, entertainment, academia, advertising, and tech break free from the stories that keep them stuck. Her clients have earned major promotions, launched successful ventures, and finally built careers that feel as good as they look on paper.
Her signature framework, The Art of Compassionate Command, guides clients to lead from the inside out — by aligning with their values, quieting imposter syndrome, and shedding the conditioning that says they have to do it all, prove it all, or fix themselves to be worthy.
A certified Co-Active coach with a PCC credential through the ICF, Michelle also brings a multidisciplinary lens shaped by her former life as a Broadway and Television Executive (Avenue Q, Grease Live!, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Without a Trace).
Today, she speaks and leads workshops for forward-thinking organizations ready to build more human-centered leadership cultures — where clarity, connection, and ownership drive performance.
Known for her mix of fierce compassion, big-picture strategy, and zero fluff, Michelle’s been called a secret weapon — and “the coach who finally got through to me.”