Meet Michele

Michele Smith, Better Possibilities

Michele’s commitment to your growth is unwavering; she’s devoted to guiding you to achieve remarkable results. As a seasoned leader, an accredited Executive/Leadership Coach, DISC consultant and Change Management Practitioner, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in team building, leadership development, facilitation, and strategic organizational change. Michele’s approach is both personal and profound, tailoring presentations, workshops, and sessions that bolster team dynamics, align with your strategic vision, and set the stage for a transformative culture shift.

 

With an extensive background in coaching leaders at all organizational levels, Michele has also refined her skills in change management and performance improvement. Her experience spans across a spectrum of roles, from a hands-on leader to a strategic consultant, specializing in fostering leadership skills that bring out the best in people. Michele’s talent in facilitating and coaching is not just about reaching organizational strategies; it’s about aligning individual goals with those strategies to develop a culture of shared responsibility.

 

Michele combines her nearly 2.5 decades of business acumen with a deep-seated passion for nurturing leadership potential to create a powerful combination that acts as a catalyst for enduring change and the realization of targeted outcomes. Michele understands the distinct challenges faced by high achievers, emerging and senior leaders, technical managers, and those balancing professional success with personal fulfillment. Michele’s coaching philosophy is inclusive and adaptable, serving a wide array of professionals across various sectors, including healthcare, and those embracing lean methodologies to enhance efficiency. Her guidance is equally valuable to women charting new courses in leadership. She ensures that every leader she works with not only achieves their desired outcomes; they also experience personal pride and joy along their leadership journey.

Coaching, consulting and facilitation that uncovers better possibilities in business and in life

Education

University of Phoenix
Master of Healthcare Administration, Clinical Informatics

University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Information Technology

Michele Smith, Better Possibilities graduated from University of Phoenix

Licenses & Certifications

Professional Certified Coach (PCC)

Certified Change Practitioner

Michele Smith, Better Possibilities licensed by UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education

Professional Coaching For Life & Work

Certified DISC Consultant

Certified Coach, Teacher, Trainer & Speaker

Experience

Director, Sutter Improvement System

Sutter Health

A key resource for driving performance improvement across the entities in the Valley Operating Unit.  Provided coaching and development to leadership and partnered in promoting and leading the development of continuous improvement capabilities across the enterprise.

Dec 2019 – February 2021

Sutter Improvement System Manager, Education and Standards

Sutter Health

Sacramento, California

A key resource for ensuring alignment and standardization across all entities and affiliates within the Sutter Health system. Standardized and delivered development for leaders, managers, and other staff relating to lean management system behaviors and competencies, providing tracking, publishing, facilitation, and leadership coaching/development.

Jan 2016 – Dec 2019

Senior Lean Consultant

Sutter Health

Sacramento, California

A key resource for driving a Lean-based management system across the organization. Part of a team responsible for teaching and coaching administrators, clinicians and front line staff on the application of Lean to solve organizational problems. Leads and manages affiliate and/or region-wide value streams and complex program-level initiatives. Supports the strategy deployment cycle and coaches senior leaders in the development of their Lean leadership competencies. Leads the development and execution of training and infrastructure for the Lean Promotion Office.

Aug 2015 – Jan 2016

Lean Consultant

Sutter Health

Sacramento, California

Coached strategy deployment associated with the Sutter Improvement System (SIS); Sutter’s Lean based management, organizational transformation, and improvement system. Accountable for activities associated with developing, implementing and sustaining the Lean management system; Value Stream Analysis, Kaizen events, Daily Management, and coaching/developing leaders around Lean mental models and behaviors.

Aug 2012 – Aug 2015

Finance Director

Sutter Health

Antioch, CA

Managed budget preparation activities ($187M), statistical reporting, financial forecasts, benchmark reporting, pre-close financial information, analysis of AR and Revenue, and GL distribution/mapping within MS4.

Mar 2010 – Aug 2012

Regional Accounting Manager

Sutter Health

Sacramento, CA

Jun 2006 – Mar 2010

Senior Accounting Analyst

Sutter Health

Sacramento, CA

Nov 2003 – Jun 2006

Accounting Analyst

Eastern Plumas Health Care

Portola, CA

June 1998 - Nov 2003