Michelle Thomas is the senior vice president of the Burning Ambition Academy at Spark Foundry, a global media agency brand within Publicis Media. Spark Foundry’s bold vision harnesses a startup spirit with a powerhouse soul that melds an entrepreneurial, innovative business approach with the full resources, capabilities and marketplace clout of a larger network.
In her role, Thomas leads leadership, group, and team coaching for the agency through Burning Ambition Academy (BAA) - Spark Foundry’s holistic approach to personal development. BAA empowers employees to find their heat via strengths-based development and purpose-driven leadership. During her tenure, Thomas has developed and executed workshops that have directly impacted over 300 employees across the agency. She has also worked closely with over 70 leaders at Spark Foundry to strengthen leadership effectiveness via personal coaching.
Thomas joined Spark Communications, which later evolved into Spark Foundry, in 2012. She has held a variety of ascending roles across Publicis Groupe for nearly 30 years. Thomas started her career at Leo Burnett in 1991 – typing scripts for TV commercials – before pivoting to Starcom Worldwide as a media buyer and planner and working on clients such as Kellogg’s, General Motors, and Hallmark Greeting Cards. In 2011, Thomas co-launched Starcom’s first-ever leadership coaching program.
Thomas is a certified co-active professional coach (CPCC), and holds a graduate certificate in organizational psychology as well as leadership training certifications from Gallup, CRR Global, The Coaches Training Institute, and The Leadership Circle. Outside of work, Thomas is also a certified yoga instructor.
Thomas received a bachelor of arts in communications from Valparaiso University.
channels
The insights you need, in your inbox daily
We use cookies and similar methods to recognize visitors and remember their preferences, understand the performance of our site, provide social media features, and serve more relevant content to you. By continuing to browse the website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
MediaVillage “Knowledge Exchange” is where leaders share intelligence, insights, stories and experiences in a trusted journalistic environment. Search “Knowledge Exchange” at MeetingPrep.com for free on-demand access to professional learning. Scroll down to visit each dedicated B2B library where the industry’s knowledge is archived. Follow our social network @MediaVillageCom
Read member contentWelcome to The Myers Report, a comprehensive hub within MediaVillage that presents the results of major industry studies, in-depth insights, market intelligence, and a wealth of media, marketing, and advertising-related data and resources. Delve into the latest financial data and forecasts that shape decision-making in the ever-evolving media landscape, and access valuable tools and information to empower professionals and businesses alike. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest trends and analysis, curated to provide a holistic view of the dynamic media industry.
Welcome to the Thought Leadership & Insights section of MediaVillage, your go-to destination for cutting-edge news, perspectives, and strategies from media agencies and brand marketers. Explore a curated collection of forward-thinking articles, interviews, and analyses that shape the future of the media industry and drive impactful advertising campaigns.
Discover the Media Owners & Sales Insights section of MediaVillage, where you'll find a wealth of thought leadership, up-to-the-minute news, and invaluable insights from media owners, media sales organizations, vendors, and suppliers. Dive into exclusive content that unveils the latest trends, innovations, and strategies driving the media landscape and fueling successful collaborations within the industry.
Building an intersectional network of professionals, educators, non-profits to advance diversity in media, marketing and advertising.