Meet our Principal
Meet Michael Jones (he/him/his), the Coach
Professional Coach, MBA, BA Music, Shin Buddhist Studies, Buddhism Lecturer
Transitions and transformations define Michael’s life journey. Ever the student, Michael holds two bachelor’s degrees (Music, Business), a MBA, and a certificate in Shin Buddhist Studies. In his professional life, he has transitioned from Manufacturing to Information Technology to Consulting, and then to Professional Services. He has worked for very small and very large companies, built and led global teams, and coached people along the way. At Salesforce, Michael was consistently the highest rated manager in the function based on employee survey results.
Married for over 40 years, Michael has three adult children and two grandchildren. Marriage also took him into the Japanese-American community and into the Japanese culture. A drastic change from his mid-west US upbringing. Parenthood opened the door to the LGBTQ+ Community, where he and his wife learn about and support the community through a number of efforts.
His spiritual journey started in the Catholic Church, led him to be baptized Baptist in his latter teens, and then he was without a path for a number of years. Eventually, again through marriage, he began his Buddhist journey. Now, as a follower for the past 30+ years, a practitioner for the past 20+ years, and an avid student, Michael is an ordained Buddhist Minister (Jodo-Shinshu Nishi Hongwanji-Ha) and he practices and teaches Buddhism.
As part of his work, Michael has coached team members around the world, including the US, Brazil, the U.K., Germany, Singapore, Japan, and Australia. He has worked with people of all ages. On a more personal level, his active involvement in Buddhism has given him the opportunity to help people from a variety of religious backgrounds. And, as an active ally of the LGBTQ+ community, Michael has helped community members, parents, and allies find their path forward.
Whether in life, career, identity, or spirituality, Michael has been through it, learned from it, and is prepared to help you realize your own capabilities.
Meet Michael Jones, the Consultant
MBA, PMP, CSM, SAFe Agilist, Design Thinker
With over four decades of experience in the high tech industry, Michael’s background encompasses leadership in Manufacturing, Materials, Logistics, Information Technology, Professional Services, Managed Services, Program and Project Management, and PMO (Methodology and Governance). Some highlights include:
Grew and led the Global PMO function for a Fortune 500 Technology Enterprise
Recognized expert in PM and Agile Frameworks (PMBOK, Scrum, Kanban, SAFe)
Has provided hands-on project rescue, governance and Executive partnership for large programs and clients across multiple industries
As a consultant, advised CIO’s and IT leaders on strategy, team building and process improvement
As an early entrant into the SOX arena, helped several companies prepare their Finance and IT Teams for their first-ever SOX audits
As a Bid Manager, drove the global Due Diligence processes for a Fortune 100 company’s RFQ Response to a Fortune 10 global company
As a trusted consultant and leader, acted as the Engagement Leader for a global Managed Services contract based in Singapore and executed through the US, Singapore and India
Has executed program reviews and provided governance for Health Care industry programs with investment values into the $100’s of Millions
His coaching and mentoring have enabled and accelerated the careers of many people, inside and outside of his teams, over the past 30 years.
Michael’s experience has a foundation in education with a MBA, years of internal and external training programs, and certifications in project management, agile, Salesforce technologies, design thinking, and more.
People are at the heart of any organization and Michael considers his greatest reward to be the people he has hired, mentored, coached, and enabled. Their achievements and successes are the motivation behind his work.
Michael has the breadth of experience to help advise your team on their path forward.