Michael Donnelly has been planning memorable experiences since her seventh birthday party at Leaps ‘n' Bounds. As founder of the award-winning FWD (For Women & Diversity) Collective and CEO of national experience design and consulting firm Red Suede Shoes, she carries the same tenacity as her seven-year-old self, leading with the idea that "business gets done when people have fun.”

Donnelly has been the force behind building, producing, and expanding some of the Midwest's most popular large-scale tech and business events. She has worked with such organizations as Microsoft, Verizon, the American Marketing Association, and DHL to design and implement strategic business development plans with a specific focus on diversity and inclusion that drive growth in sales, revenues, and brand awareness through events and social media outreach. She serves on several boards including the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago and mHub Chicago and is a economic empowerment mentor at 1871.

Inspirational, Women, Empowerment, Influential Women, Diversity, Diversity Topics, Inclusion,