Title: 1) Founder 2) Founder 3) Founder

Company: 1) Fusion Academy 2) Well Heeled Warrior
3) Feather Punk Studio

Location: Cardiff, CA United States

Michelle R. Gilman has always felt a calling to help the underdog, and more than two decades ago, she saw an opportunity to bring her innate passion and rebellious nature to a broken education system. She decided to revolutionize how the youth were being taught and nurtured, and help them embrace a fuller definition of success. Fusion Academy was born out of this vision, and offers an alternate to special needs children and all other students who don’t fit the traditional model of public education. Ms. Gilman adores these children and their families, and plans to continue to do everything to help them in any way she can. She hopes to get her educational system into communities around the United States, and to globally have 100 schools by 2020. Since Fusion Academy’s inception, it has already grown to include 35 locations around the nation.

In addition to her work with her school system, Ms. Gilman also runs her own private coaching practice for young businesswomen, Well Heeled Warrior, and her own art firm, Feather Punk Studio. Furthermore, she is on the board of directors of Rock to Recovery, which uses music as therapy, and of the Invisible Disability Project.  Ms. Gilman attributes her professional and personal success to creating lasting, authentic relationships. She is currently a member of The International Women’s Leadership Association, the National Association of Professional Women, and the National Association of Women Business Owners.  If she could offer some advice to the younger generations, it would be to walk through any doors that are open, and to not be afraid to take risks.

Contact Michelle Gilman: