Prior to joining Microsoft and M12, Michelle was the managing partner for Area 120, Google’s internal incubator, where she led a transformation to align the organization’s strategy and investment criteria to key thematic areas within and adjacent to Google’s core businesses. Her tenure saw a record number of projects “spin in” to become key products or capabilities at Google. Michelle first joined Google in the Office of CEO, working on special projects related to startups and innovation.

Prior to Google, Michelle was an entrepreneur-in-residence and investor at Comcast Ventures, where she focused on VR/AR and artificial intelligence, as well as investments for Comcast’s Catalyst Fund, a dedicated investment fund for underrepresented founders. She was previously a partner at IBM Ventures and a senior product and business leader at Apple, leading product for the News, Books and the Movies businesses outside the US. Michelle began her career at McKinsey & Co. and worked for many years in the film and media industry in Los Angeles.

One of Michelle’s hobbies is connecting people and learning through conversation. In 2010 she co-founded the Influencer Series, a community of technology leaders, which has hosted more than 90 roundtable discussions with over 4,000 founders, investors and tech executives.

Michelle holds a B.A. in business administration majoring in economics from University of Oklahoma and a J.D. from Yale Law School. She grew up on the south Texas border and now lives in the Bay Area with her daughter.