Michele Herlein

Michele Herlein is a leading authority in the creation and continuity of organizational cultures that drive sustainable business success. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Michele has partnered with CEOs and senior executives from top companies to design, implement, and nurture cultures that foster innovation, employee engagement, and high performance. Her expertise in organizational culture has resulted in transformative outcomes, including a sevenfold increase in profits for one organization within five years. Michele’s passion lies in helping businesses unlock the full potential of their people by aligning organizational culture with strategic objectives. Her approach integrates talent management, organizational design, and change management, driving immediate and long-term success. She has been recognized for her groundbreaking work with accolades such as HR Executive of the Year by Middle Tennessee SHRM and Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. As the Founder and CEO of CultureMax, Michele leads efforts to support organizations in building and sustaining high-impact cultures. As Chief Administrative Officer at Barge Design Solutions, Inc., she spearheaded initiatives that earned the company recognition as a Great Place to Work and one of the nation’s top wellness-focused workplaces. Her leadership as Chief Human Resources Officer was instrumental in championing a culture that valued employee experience, organizational design, and effective change management. Michele’s background spans diverse industries, including her work at Bridgestone Americas as Vice President of Talent, Organization, and Culture, where she integrated talent management systems and guided cultural transformation. She also spent ten years at Bandag, Inc., leading leadership development and succession planning programs that cultivated a resilient organizational culture. A published author and sought-after speaker, Michele shares her insights on culture creation,...