Michelle Perdue '00, '01
Founder/President
B.S. ’00, M.Ed. '01 (College of Education and Human Development)
Alumni Association Member
About Speak To Advance Communications
Michelle Perdue is a resilience keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and transformational coach who helps organizations create healthy and sustainable work environments by providing their employees the tools and resources needed to thrive in the face of adversity. Her speaking and coaching topics include stress management, imposter syndrome, resilience, speech coaching and storytelling.
About Michelle
January 17, 2017 was the day Michelle Perdue’s life changed forever. It was the infamous day she received the news she had breast cancer. In that paralyzing and devastating moment, she fought to make sense of what her life would become. As a wife, and mother of two, her future no longer had the spark of hope to bring to light her most creative and life-changing ideas and aspirations, but rather her fears began to overshadow her ability to live a purpose-driven life.
Suddenly, faced with a life of uncertainty, Michelle knew that if she didn’t acquire the resilience needed to survive cancer, she would lose the battle before the true fight had even begun. Therefore, rather than surrender to the relentless impact of cancer due to the mental and disheartening anguish it could cause, she made the decision to rise to the occasion to become the best version of herself despite feeling as if she was losing herself.
While fighting to stay alive, Michelle soon realized it wasn’t the chemotherapy treatments and major surgeries that posed the greatest challenges to her survival, but rather self-liming thoughts and actions. Little did she know this life-altering realization would become the catalyst and fuel needed to ignite her passion. A passion that reflected the authenticity of her humanity and transparency of her life’s calling, which would explain how she has become the person she is today.
Prior to Michelle’s diagnosis, she operated as the founder of Speak To Advance Communications, LLC. As a professional speaking coach, she helped women in business speak with confidence and authority to get the recognition and results they deserved. However, due to her journey with cancer, it has inspired her to also start a business helping others live their best, most authentic and courageous life by achieving optimal resilience within and beyond the workplace. Now in recovery, she believes that although everyone may not be impacted by cancer in their lifetime, it’s a good chance they will be consumed by cancerous thoughts or actions that may undermine their skills and talents to rise to their potential. It’s for this reason why Michelle is the person she is today.
As a former Area Director for Toastmasters International, a certified speaking coach, and most recently, a board member of the Minnesota National Speakers Association, Michelle has had the pleasure of working with clients from a diverse group of organizations. They include, but are not limited to, Land O’ Lakes, General Mills, and Johnson & Johnson. In addition to keynote speaking and facilitating result-driven workshops to thousands of employees, Michelle has been a CEO moderator for some of the most influential corporate leaders.
Michelle is the author of the book “Rise and Shine! How to Live a Life of Resilience and Perform and Your Potential.” Her book has inspired many to live beyond the status quo and gain the strength and courage to overcome adversity and win in the game of life. Here are some testimonials influential change-makers have been inspired to say about Rise and Shine:
"Recommending Rise and Shine as a definite read is an easy recommendation for me. I LOVE the down-to-earth stories, examples, and real-world lived experiences that Michelle Perdue utilizes to help her readers thrive and flourish in life and work. This book is more than a motivational and inspirational book. It is a blueprint and roadmap to help the stuck get unstuck and the unmotivated get motivated so they can live and fulfill their life purpose. Rise and Shine is a book that appeals to all ages and audiences because the principles and practices are inclusive of all dimensions of diversity. If you’re feeling personally and professionally confused, lost, overwhelmed or fearful of what to do next—allow Rise and Shine to assist you on your journey of refocusing and recentering yourself."
By Dr. Jermaine M. Davis
Award-winning Professor of Communication & Organizational Leadership
Author of Leading with Greatness!
