Dr. Michelle Hector II is a leadership scholar, national speaker, and executive coach with over 25 years of experience across finance, technology, and higher education. She holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of San Francisco and is widely recognized for bridging academic research with real-world leadership practice.
Dr. Hector's professional background includes 14 years in the financial industry, where she worked in investment banking, training, and human resource management, and led teams of more than 250 professionals. In addition to her finance experience, she has spent over six years leading high-performing teams in the technology sector and supporting small business owners in building sustainable infrastructure and growth strategies.
An accomplished educator, Dr. Hector has taught business and leadership courses for more than 14 years. She currently teaches at University of San Francisco and UC Berkeley Extension, where her courses include Making Power Moves, Women in Business, Power and Influence, and Management and Leadership. Her teaching is known for its rigor, relevance, and emphasis on applied leadership, equity, and impact.
Dr. Hector's work centers on empowering leaders—particularly women and underrepresented professionals—to navigate power, influence, and organizational systems with confidence and authenticity. Her research, The Constant Outsider: African American Women Sustaining Prominence and Power in the 21st Century, examines the lived experiences, strategies, and resilience of Black women executives who have sustained leadership roles across industries. This work informs her teaching, coaching, and writing, including her ongoing development of a leadership workbook for women.
As an executive coach and consultant, Dr. Hector partners with individuals and organizations to strengthen leadership capacity, foster inclusive cultures, and drive sustainable performance. Her approach blends scholarly insight, industry expertise, and deep empathy, creating transformative learning experiences that move people from potential to power.
Dr. Hector is deeply committed to mentorship, community impact, and advancing pathways to leadership. Whether in the classroom, boardroom, or community, she brings clarity, courage, and purpose to the work of developing leaders who lead with intention and influence.