Meet Michelle Zattoni

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Zattoni. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.

Hi Michelle, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Growing up as a biracial child adopted by a white family, I often felt like the only one who looked like me in any room. Straddling two worlds, I struggled with identity and belonging, feeling disconnected from both Black and white communities. Despite this, my family always treated me with love and support, never making me feel any different. Their unwavering acceptance gave me the foundation to embrace my unique heritage and turn these challenges into strengths. These experiences fueled my passion to create the International Cultural Festival and International Cultural Exchange Program—spaces where diversity is celebrated, and everyone feels seen, valued, and included.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the founder of the MZ Foundation, an organization dedicated to working with local nonprofits to host the International Cultural Festival (ICF) and provide students with the International Cultural Exchange Program (ICEP). As a global citizen, I am committed to fostering community connections through nonprofit collaborations and educational program development.

My passion for educational reform has driven me to conduct international programming in places such as Nigeria, Jamaica, and Kenya, ensuring that children worldwide have access to a well-rounded education. Through my work, I remain dedicated to creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and empowering the next generation of global citizens.

In addition to my nonprofit work, I am a published poet and currently in the final stages of writing my first book. My next venture will take me to Liberia, where I will collaborate with local nonprofit leaders to implement ICEP, followed by a trip to the Cayman Islands for the InnaStar Trailblazer Awards. I am also actively organizing the next two International Cultural Festivals alongside my nonprofit partners.

The most exciting part about the festival and program is being able to see people from all different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, religions, etc. come together and learn more about each other while having a wholesome good time. The connections made bring a special joy to me when I see people who’ve met through my work are later friends, business partners, or simply supporting each other.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

My first few jobs were in customer service which helped me with people skills, communication, and understanding basic business operations.
Getting better at connecting with people starts with really listening: paying attention, putting the phone down, and making an effort to understand where someone is coming from. Strong relationships are built through open communication, honesty, and finding common ground, even with people who have different perspectives. Developing business operation skills goes hand in hand with this, as success in any industry depends on teamwork, organization, and effective problem-solving. Learning how to manage projects, delegate tasks, and adapt to challenges makes it easier to work with others and achieve goals. At the end of the day, it’s about being present, staying curious, and treating people the way you’d want to be treated while also building the skills to lead and collaborate effectively.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

The last twelve months have been challenging personally as I was suffering from CPTSD after a very toxic relationship. Although I grew up with some domestic violence until 2021, I had never been in a relationship with an abusive person. In early 2024 I was able to completely cut ties and start the healing journey which included cognitive behavioral therapy, strengthening my relationships with my support system, reintegrating back into my non profit work and social life, lots of reading and of course, YouTube. Over time, I was able to relieve myself of the cognitive dissonance, fear, anxiety, and stress all while performing better at my day job, obtaining more funding and partners for my projects and obtained a new home for myself. I believe the area I grew most in was taking accountability. Taking personal accountability for my reactions to the abuse, for staying when I knew I was being abused, cheated on, etc., and for the judgement I had placed on others I saw in similar situations in the past.

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Cleverminds Educational Foundation

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