If you ask Michelle Calcagni what she loves about her work, you’ll get a quick answer: solving problems. Whether she’s working with entrepreneurs, small to midsize businesses, or nonprofits, she combines wide-ranging experience and proven talents to drive growth, expand efficiency and improve results. In 2016, Michelle created PhoneBox Group, a multi-discipline consultancy that works with organizations in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Michelle’s worked with everything from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies and with industries ranging from non-profit to pharmaceuticals to aerospace to manufacturing (plus a lot more). She’s led marketing and communications programs, developed business strategies, managed terrific teams, and has been part of large-scale initiatives and projects that yielded strong financial and operational benefits. All of this work has been underpinned by a focus on metrics, tools, and operational efficiency.
One of Michelle’s biggest strengths is understanding and resolving business challenges by looking at them from diverse perspectives. Beyond her commitment to a “customer-back” mindset, she actively seeks ways to ensure the voices of all stakeholders are embedded in solutions. This has been particularly valuable when Michelle has worked with global teams (and as an expatriate in Europe, Asia, and South America). In fact, successfully bringing global teams together to find new solutions and share approaches is one of her most unique skills.
Michelle has served as a board member, instructor, mentor, panelist, and/or panel moderator for organizations including the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, Founding Moms, Cultivate Chicago, the Good Food Accelerator, and Pass the Torch for Women. She is also a Steering Committee Member, panelist, and panel moderator for Indiana University’s IN Balance Women’s Network, having received her MBA from IU’s Kelley School of Business. Under her leadership, PhoneBox gives at least 10% of its time/resources to support small businesses that are women- and minority-owned.
