Enthusiastic about engagement and connection, Michelle Tillis Lederman, CEO of Executive Essentials, has dedicated her career to helping organizations build up leadership and communication skills among their employees. She is an entrepreneur, speaker and author of several books, in which she references her experiences at Lehigh where she earned a BS in accounting, writing & communications. Michelle was named one of Forbes Top 25 Networking Experts and has appeared on many media outlets, including NPR, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
Why did you decide to come to Lehigh?
Lehigh had a strong reputation for business — specifically accounting — which, at the time, was what I wanted to pursue. I was enchanted by the beautiful campus and there was no gym requirement, which was a bonus. It was also both close and far enough away from home.
If you were in a major that skewed male, how did you navigate through that?
I majored in accounting but truly didn’t feel the male dominance, or at least I didn’t pay attention to it. There were female faculty in the department, which was beneficial. There was, however, an intense competitiveness in the major that was not gender-related.
How did your friendships and relationships with other women at Lehigh shape your student experience?
I am still great friends with the people from my freshman dorm. We still refer to ourselves as B5 — our hall in Dravo. We also have some honorary B5 girls, that’s how tight the group was and continues to be.
What are you doing now?
I am an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. My company, Executive Essentials, provides custom leadership and communications programs in multiple formats. My most recent book, The Connectors Advantage: 7 Mindsets to Grow Your Influence and Impact, was inspired by many of the experiences I had at Lehigh and has recently launched as The Connector’s Advantage Online Book Club. I’ve stayed connected with Lehigh throughout the years, teaching a signature course for the Executive Education program called Connected Leadership, as well as have spoken for Lehigh Athletics and their women in business conference. My first book, The 11 Laws of Likability, also includes stories of encounters from my Lehigh years.
How did your experience as a woman at Lehigh prepare you for the professional and person you are today?
Lehigh taught me a few crucial lessons. It taught me that discipline and hard work pay off. It showed me the value and importance of relationships with both people and organizations. It helped me get used to being outnumbered, since, at the time, the male to female ratio was about 5 to 1 — I felt prepared when I entered the finance world.
Special thanks to Christina Perrier ’23 for editorial support.