Meet Michelle Custer

We recently connected with Michelle Custer and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Sometimes purpose doesn’t arrive with fireworks, it comes quietly through the moments that break us open.
For a long time, I thought my purpose was what society often tells women it should be: get married, have children, follow the traditional path. But when my best friend transitioned in March of 2015, my entire world shifted. In the middle of that grief, I experienced my first spiritual awakening, and everything I believed about purpose, identity, and what I was here to do changed.

This loss became the doorway to my healing, and ultimately, to my purpose.

I’m here to be unconditional love and light for others who are walking through their own darkness.
To give people even the smallest glimmer of hope when the world feels heavy.
To remind them they are worthy of love, exactly as they are.
To help them feel seen, heard, and valued, because at the core, I believe that’s what every human heart longs for.

Sharing my journey, the beautiful parts and the truly horrific parts, is how I choose to show up in this world. If my story can be the spark that lights something inside someone else, if it can help them take one step forward, if me believing in someone else is the catalyst for them to start loving themselves, then that is my purpose in motion. Pouring into others by sharing my truth, that is honoring myself and sharing the love everyone deserves and needs.

I’m here to be a light and unconditional love. And to help others remember they have a story that matters and they are a light too.

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?

After traveling on the road since April 2024, I’ve officially planted roots in Scottsdale, AZ. This area is such an incredible event hub, one of the main reasons I felt called here. And the weather is absolutely gorgeous. I’ll take dry heat over humidity any day.

My focus now is to create immersive experiences within the holistic healing and wellness space, and to infuse those elements into corporate environments. I want people in the workplace to discover self-care, to heal, and to live healthier, more grounded lives.

I’m also open to speaking opportunities that allow me to share my own healing journey. Topics close to my heart include aging parents, dementia, grief and loss, corporate toxicity, mental health, and building true work/life balance. I have a strong affinity for supporting men in their healing as well. I believe both men and women need to unlearn outdated ideas of what a man “should” be. Men deserve spaces where they can feel, be vulnerable, and heal their deep wounds. While women often have more emotional support systems, men need more, and I feel called to help create those spaces.

Within the events industry, my passion is on-site execution. So many planners are still running on fumes and caffeine, and I want to show them that sacrifice is no longer the cost of doing great work. I’m here to support those who want to plan from the background and reduce their travel time, knowing they have someone with 20 years of experience, and genuine enthusiasm, ready to bring their event to life.

And on a more creative note, I absolutely love painting with acrylics. One of my dreams is to start weaving that into immersive experiences as well, combining art, healing, and presence into something people can truly feel.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The most impactful moment of my journey came when my best friend passed away at just 53 years old. She was vibrant, loving, and the kind of woman who filled every room with her presence. The last words she ever said to me were, “There is more to life than work, Michelle.” I didn’t know that would be the final time I’d hug her or see her alive. I had canceled what would have been our last trip together, because of a work deadline. I had no idea how deeply that decision would shape me, or how it would become the catalyst for me changing my entire life. It took some time after her transition that I realized I wanted to become a voice reminding others to choose differently. To live differently.

My three biggest lessons from that chapter of my life:
Sacrifice no longer means success.
Work/life balance creates more abundance than you can imagine.
Self-care is Essential.

I used to chase the fancy job titles, the promotions, all the external markers of “success”, and yet I was still miserable. And my friend was still gone.
What I eventually learned is that when you take care of yourself, your nervous system, your energy, your health, you create far more abundance than any title ever could. You show up better for your clients, your team, your family, and most importantly, for You. At the end of the day, loving what you do means it will never feel like work. It isn’t about the money or the status. It’s about living a life rooted in peace, happiness, and gratitude.

Start living for You.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m looking to collaborate with other event professionals, holistic wellness practitioners, venue owners, and anyone who feels called to make a positive, meaningful impact. Let’s step outside the box and do things differently, creating spaces that truly support people in the ways they need most right now. Let’s elevate together and help others heal.
That is my dream. That is my purpose.
Building genuine connections and real relationships is what matters most to me. From there, we can co-create whatever we’re meant to bring into the world.

Watch Me Shine Brighter is my platform, and you can learn more about my work and my journey there.
My digital business card with links to everything: https://poplme.co/G5FK9baU

Contact Info:

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