ABOUT ME

BRAND CONSULTANT & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

For over 25 years, I have partnered with agencies, founders, and companies across Canada and the U.S., shaping not only brands but the ecosystems they live in. My work has always lived at the intersection of business strategy, creative intuition, and cultural relevance, where insight becomes identity and brands grow into something people can believe in.

I founded and led MAKE, a boutique brand studio known for collaborative, soul-forward work in lifestyle, wellness, and CPG. Over the years I learned what makes brands thrive, and equally, what makes them falter. That experience showed me the importance of having not just designers and strategists, but a guide who can help founders navigate the high stakes decisions that define success.

Today, I work independently as a brand consultant. My role is to bring clarity, perspective, and judgment to founders who need a trusted ally at their side. I help them align their goals with the realities of the market, source the right partners, and ensure that their business, brand, and lifestyle move in harmony.

My approach is rooted in listening and observation, in reading the brief behind the brief, and in tuning into the values driving a business. I call this way of working Empathic Strategies, a practice of translating insight into decisions, creative direction, and brand platforms that feel clear, human, and resonant.

This mindset also helps me bring the right people into a project and support teams in working together with ease. When a team is aligned, the work speaks louder and with more heart.

I help brands say something real. I help founders make decisions with confidence. And I love solving complex brand problems that others shy away from.

Let’s build something that lasts.

See The Work
  • Autumn Sons Baking Co.

    Burnbarrel FX

    Christine LaPerriere

    Fine Tune Pilates

    GG & CO Creative

    Glenn’s Edibles

    Handfuel

    Insource Corp

    Jinlet Beverages

    Leader In Motion

    Liva Date Sugar

    Luc Seesing Machinery

    Midday Squares

    Mindful Movement Centre

    Misfitstudio

    NAGI Energy Bars

    Nomz

    PURE Batteries

    Plant 48

    The Greater Goods

    THiS Flax!

    TODO Ontario

    Torch Wellness

    Tonica Kombucha

    Sahajan Beauty

    Sarah Abaza Jewelry

    Sterling Forest Lodge

    Supreme Cannabis

    Wholesome Canine

Independent Brand Experience

  • Campbell’s

    Cadbury Adams

    Canada Bread

    Chapmans

    Continental Foods

    General Mills

    Hershey’s

    Irving Paper

    Kraft Canada

    Kraft Mondelez

    Kroger

    Cadbury Adams

    Loblaws

    Clover Leaf

    General Mills

    Canada Bread

    ConAgra

    PepsiCo

    New Dominion Stores

    Purina

    Safeway US

    Shopper’s Drug Mart

    Pfizer

    Unilever

    VH

    Walmart Canada & US

    Weston Foods

National & Multinational Experience

Perspectives

"Michelle inspired the full vision and aligned it with my true purpose. She has an extraordinary ability to distill complexity into clarity, a true brand alchemist. Whatever you call it, it works, and I’m deeply grateful."

Kamoy Nicola, Toronto (Client)

"Working with Michelle is like experiencing the perfect creative cocktail: one part skilled strategist, one part open collaborator, two parts intuitive visionary, all garnished with the unexpected magic that sparks lasting impact.

Blake Whitman, Vermont (Client)

"Michelle leads with clarity and creativity, pairing sharp design instincts with a deep understanding of brand. She knows how to elevate ideas, bring fresh perspectives, and guide teams toward meaningful, memorable outcomes.

Jason Vandenberg (Designer)

"Michelle is our secret weapon, a quiet force behind the scenes who helped translate our ideas into a brand that truly resonates. Her strategic intuition made all the difference."

Dylan Cooper, Toronto (Client)

"Michelle has an intuitive sense for building teams, leading creative collaboration, and steering brand systems from vision to execution."

Nick Samson

Working with Michelle is a piece of brioche (cake is far too common). Professional, strategic with an attention to detail, Michelle combines pretty much everything you’d want in a creative with pretty much everything you’d want in a human being. Like I said, brioche.

Jonathan Weiss (Copywriter)

GREAT BRANDS EMERGE
THROUGH GREAT CONVERSATIONS.

Let's Start Ours

Awards

Silver Pentawards
Creativity International Awards
PAC Global Awards
Logo Lounge Awards
Hermes Creative Awards

Education

1996-2000
Ontario College of Art + Design
Bachelor of Art
Package Design, Advertising & Communications