Meet Michele

Michele Smith, Better Possibilities

Michele is a dedicated Executive/Leadership Coach with extensive experience coaching individuals across all levels of the organization. She has broad experience as a designated leader and change management consultant, with expertise in team building, leadership development, and facilitation/coaching of leadership to arrive at an organizational strategy with aligned goals, solutions, and ultimately culture change. She is also a skilled Performance Improvement Coach and Facilitator (in person and virtual), with in-depth knowledge in healthcare, healthcare finance, and lean tools and methodologies.


As an International Coaching Federation accredited coach, and a certified John Maxwell Team member, Michele blends coaching, consulting, speaking, and facilitation with over two decades of business experience and her passion to help individuals become the leaders they want to be. This blend is a formula that inspires a deeper commitment to change and the achievement of transformative results. She understands challenges unique to high achievers, managers transitioning to senior leadership roles, highly technical managers, women in leadership, business disruption through mergers, and those of an achiever mindset who need to balance the needs of family, work, and their own well-being. 

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