Happy December, Moms! This month we're introducing you to Andréa A Michel, CEO of her own company, proud mother of two and Milwaukee leader. Read all about Andréa and her family, her work, and the couple of silver linings she's identified during these unique times.
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Thank you for being our December Spotlight Mom! Please tell us your name and profession.
Andréa A Michel, CEO/Founder of Andréa Michel Consulting LLC, Certified Professional Coach and Certified NLP Practitioner.
How many children do you have?
2 children - Lauren (12) and Gavin (10), Husband - Tony
Explain/describe one of your proudest mom moments recently.
Every time I go away and come back home, and my children are excited to see me is a proud mom moment. I recently spent a week in Sedona with my girlfriends and my children came to the airport with my husband to pick me up from the airport, even though it was after 10:00 at night and I couldn't hug them because of COVID...they just wanted to see me.
What do you like best about the work you do?
I LOVE being able to help my clients heal from their childhood experiences as well as dealing with the shadow side of their personalities.
What's the hardest part of being a working mom?
Before retiring from corporate America, the hardest part of being a career-loving mom was asking for permission to take time off to take my children to the doctor or other important appointments. Because of my position, I had a lot of autonomy, but I still had a boss and needed to ask permission...just like everyone else. Now that I own my own business, it isn't hard at all. I create my own schedule.
What's been the craziest/hardest part of this year for you and your family?
The hardest part has been not being able to attend my daughter's promotion ceremony from 5th grade to middle school and my son not being able to take swim and guitar lessons. Also, virtual schooling is crazy but I'd rather them be schooled virtually than going to school in-person.
Have you found any silver linings this year?
There are so many silver linings. The first has been slowing down, not having to drive my kids from here to there. Another has been the time I've been able to work on myself and do some serious shadow work and inner child healing.
Any words of advice for other working moms, especially those that are newer working moms?
Put yourself first. You can't pour from an empty cup and you can't give what you don't have. In order to serve yourself, your family, your employers, employees, colleagues, and everyone else, you have to take care of yourself.
Put yourself first. You can't pour from an empty cup and you can't give what you don't have.
Favorite MKE restaurant/store/hangout?
Two favorite restaurants pre-COVID - Sweet Diner and Casablanca on Brady Street
What makes your family unique?
That everyone, except me, speaks three languages: English, French, Creole. They speak it all the time and I just listen for them to say my name. I also pretend like I understand exactly what they're saying... they make fun of me but I don't care.
What is Milwaukee's biggest opportunity to improve the lives of working moms and better support them?
More racially diverse neighborhoods.
Are you celebrating any holidays this month? If so, how do you and your family like to celebrate?
We will celebrate Christmas but not with tons of gifts. We usually give our children 2 gifts max and they're happy with that. They also know that their gifts are from us and not Santa. I will cook something special for them and we'll probably sit in front of the fireplace drinking hot cocoa and eating chocolate candy.
