Keynotes
Stories that resonate. Insights that stick.
Leadership isn’t just about titles or tactics—it’s about presence, resilience, and the ability to lead through pressure without losing yourself in the process. Michelle Baker delivers keynotes that are deeply relevant to this idea. With decades of senior leadership experience at Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Institute, she brings more than perspective—she brings lived experience. Her talks blend story, strategy, and straight talk—for leaders who want to build something that lasts.
Signature Keynote: Grisilience
Grisilience
/grɪ-SIL-ee-əns/
noun
Grit + Resilience. The strength to rise, adapt, and lead—especially when life won’t slow down.
This keynote is both deeply personal and highly practical. Michelle shares her story of sustained upheaval as an introverted child through the challenges of building a high-visibility, wildly successful leadership career at Disney. She shares insights about how inner grit and unshakeable resilience made her the leader she is today, and how transferable these skills can be. Prepare to think about your approach to challenges in a whole new way.
Why Michelle?
25+ Years of Leadership Experience - Michelle knows what it takes to lead with resilience—she spent decades developing leaders at Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Institute, where high expectations, ambitious goals, and constant change were the norm.
Bringing Real-World Strategies – As Co-Founder & CEO of Stoneledge, she equips leaders with practical tools to navigate pressure, build resilience, and lead with clarity.
Leadership is More Than a Role – Michelle knows that it’s about how you show up, grow, and elevate those around you—because resilient leaders create resilient teams.
Walk Away With:
Strategies to lead with clarity, support, and accountability - especially under pressure.
A new perspective on sustaining high-performance without the overwhelm.
A practical framework to build lasting resilience (not just pushing through).
Perfect For:
Leadership retreats, conferences, corporate summits, and internal culture-building events.
Real Impact, Real Results
“They didn’t just provide services; they became trusted collaborators, fully invested in our success. Michelle and AJ helped shape our leadership and culture through exceptional training programs, engaging hiring events, thoughtful service standards, next-level workbooks, and detailed reviews of critical service touchpoints during our soft opening. I can’t imagine a better company to help bring our vision to life.”
Joe Hollingsworth, Jr.
Founder of Aspire & The Hollingsworth Companies
"Working with Stoneledge has been a pleasure for our team. What sets them apart is their genuine care for their client's success—they’re truly invested in understanding our needs and culture. They don't just offer advice; they provide actionable, real-world solutions that we can apply immediately. Their strategic and practical approach makes them an invaluable partner for any organization looking to make real, impactful change."
Holger Durre
Fire Chief, Prescott Fire Department
“There was a quote from Michelle - ‘The best leaders take the time to provide role clarity, support, and accountability.’ This challenged me because it reminded me that there’s no shortcut to good leadership. It takes time!”
David Kubwayo
Global Operations Leader