Michele Leonard is a passionate speaker, author, and encourager with a heart for helping people discover and fulfill their God-given potential. Known for her authenticity and her gift for building people, Michele inspires others to rise above limitations and embrace their true purpose.
A transformational leader with phenomenal leadership skills, Michele has taught leadership development and equipped pastors and leaders on behalf of Dr. John Maxwell in countries such as São Paulo, Brazil; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Mexico; London; and throughout the United States—speaking to audiences ranging from intimate gatherings of 100 to stadiums of 10,000.
A lifelong learner, she lives by the mantra, “Never stop being a student of life,” believing that growth ends where learning does. Her message is simple but powerful: potential lives within everyone—it just needs the right environment and encouragement to come alive.
Guided by the wisdom of mentors like Dr. John Maxwell, who once told her, “Throw your heart over the bar, and everything else will follow,” Michele continues to lead with boldness, faith, and intention. Her ultimate life goal is to exhaust every ounce of the potential God placed inside her—and to help others do the same.
Before stepping fully into ministry, Michele honed her skills in media, advertising, and content creation as a commercial television producer—an experience that gave her a unique perspective on communication, storytelling, and influence. She carried this creative expertise into ministry, where she faithfully served alongside her husband, Pastor Dennis Leonard, until his untimely passing in 2018.
Together, they planted and established three thriving church campuses from the ground up. With her blend of creative vision and ministry leadership, Michele has served in nearly every role, bringing experience, wisdom, and countless hours of dedication to building and equipping the local church. Her background in media not only sharpened her ability to communicate with clarity and impact, but also enhanced her effectiveness as an international leadership trainer—helping her connect with diverse audiences across cultures, from small groups of pastors to stadiums of thousands.
Her journey is a testimony of faith, perseverance, and the quiet but undeniable power of believing in what’s possible.