Michelle Kinder, M.Ed., LPC, is a leadership coach, keynote speaker, and former nonprofit executive director who helps leaders build emotionally healthy, sustainable cultures without losing their humanity in the process.

As the founder of Embody EQ, Michelle works with executives, leadership teams, and mission-driven organizations to strengthen emotional intelligence, deepen relational trust, navigate complexity, and lead with greater steadiness and self-awareness. Her work integrates neuroscience, systems thinking, mental health expertise, and practical leadership strategy in ways that are both deeply human and highly actionable.

Michelle spent more than two decades at Momentous Institute, a nationally recognized mental health and education organization, including six years as executive director. Under her leadership, the organization was named one of Fortune’s Best Workplaces for Women and Best Workplaces in Texas.

Before moving into executive leadership and consulting, Michelle worked as a family therapist, an experience that continues to shape her understanding of human behavior, group dynamics, stress, resilience, and change. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, an International Coaching Federation-certified coach, a credentialed Polyvagal-Informed provider trained under Deb Dana, and a certified trainer in 3 Vital Questions: Transforming Workplace Drama.

Michelle is also the co-founder and co-host of Oxygen for Educators, a media platform focused on educator well-being during a time of profound cultural and systemic strain. Through speaking, writing, coaching, and facilitation, she is especially passionate about helping leaders create environments where people can thrive—not just perform.

Her writing has appeared in publications including TIME, The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, Mindful Magazine, and The Hill. She is the co-author of the book WHOLE: What Teachers Need to Help Students Thrive.

Michelle grew up in Guatemala City and now lives in Dallas with her husband, Patrick, and a cast of beloved dogs. Outside of work, she loves running, cooking, reading, making candles, and enjoying her grown daughters, Maya and Sophia.