Michelle “Mico” Costello is channeling over 30 years of networking, entrepreneurship, and people-focused experience into a growing public speaking platform centered on empowerment and real-world insight. Blending her background in HR, psychology, and business, she delivers messages rooted in understanding human behavior, communication, and resilience. Through consistent content creation and self-built opportunities like virtual town halls, she’s refining a voice that prioritizes authenticity, relatability, and action. Now stepping onto larger stages, Mico aims to inspire audiences to think bigger, embrace entrepreneurship, and confidently pursue opportunities that align with who they truly are.
Mico, you’re shifting your focus toward public speaking. What sparked that decision, and what kind of impact do you hope to make on stage?
I am shifting my focus toward public speaking because I truly believe the information and experiences I’ve gained over the years can help and inspire other people. I’ve been networking for more than 30 years and throughout that journey I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many talented, creative and knowledgeable individuals from different industries and backgrounds. Every conversation has taught me something valuable and over time I realized that many people are looking for guidance, encouragement and practical insight on how to move forward in business and life.
The decision was really sparked by attending countless networking events, conferences and business gatherings where I watched experienced speakers share their expertise and stories with audiences. Seeing the way, they were able to educate, motivate and connect with people made me realize that I wanted to do the same in my own way. I don’t just want to speak to people — I want to create conversations that inspire action and confidence.
The impact I hope to make on stage is to encourage others to pursue entrepreneurship, think bigger about their future and take more control over their financial and career paths. I want people to leave my talks feeling motivated, empowered and believing that building something of their own is possible. My goal is to use my voice and experiences to help others grow, network more effectively and create opportunities that can change their lives.
With your background in entrepreneurship, HR, and psychology, how do you blend those perspectives into the messages you share with audiences?
Having a background in entrepreneurship, human resources and psychology gives me a unique perspective because all three areas are deeply connected to people, relationships, communication and personal growth. No matter what industry you’re in, success often comes down to understanding people — how they think, how they respond to challenges and how they interact in both personal and professional environments.
My experience in HR has taught me how important leadership, communication and professionalism are in the workplace. Psychology has helped me better understand behavior, motivation and the emotional side of decision-making. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, has shown me the realities of building something from the ground up, taking risks, adapting to change and staying focused during difficult times. When I speak to audiences, I naturally blend all of those experiences together to create messages that are relatable, practical and encouraging.
I also believe that many of the situations we experience in life and business are shared experiences. If I’ve gone through certain challenges, chances are someone else in the audience has experienced something similar or is preparing to face it themselves. That’s why storytelling is so important to me. We all have stories to tell and when people hear stories, they can relate to, it helps them feel understood and gives them a clearer picture of how to handle their own situations. My goal is to provide insight, inspiration and real-life perspective that can help people grow personally, professionally and financially.
Breaking into public speaking can be challenging. What obstacles have you faced so far, and how are you working to overcome them?
Yes, breaking into public speaking can definitely be challenging, especially when you are just getting started. One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced so far is simply gaining experience and building credibility in the speaking industry. Like many new speakers, I’ve had to learn how to confidently present my message, connect with different audiences and continue improving my communication skills with every opportunity I get.
Another challenge has been navigating the business side of public speaking. There are many websites and platforms that promise speaking opportunities, but not all of them produce real results. I’ve invested time and money into trying different resources while learning which opportunities are truly valuable and which ones are more about marketing than actual bookings. Building a recognizable brand name has also been part of the challenge because visibility and consistency are very important in the speaking world.
To overcome these obstacles, I’ve focused on creating my own opportunities instead of waiting for them to come to me. I currently host monthly virtual town halls through Zoom where I speak on a variety of topics connected to my YouTube channel, No Customers No Business. While my platform mainly focuses on food, grocery and package delivery, the conversations often expand into broader customer service and business topics involving industries like manufacturing, construction and entrepreneurship. These town halls allow me to practice speaking regularly, engage directly with audiences, and continue developing my voice and message.
I believe growth comes through consistency, learning and staying committed to the process. Every event, every conversation, and every presentation help me gain more confidence and experience. My focus right now is continuing to build my platform, strengthen my brand and create meaningful discussions that provide value to people from many different industries and walks of life.
You’re already creating content on YouTube. How has that experience helped you develop your voice and prepare for live speaking opportunities?
Creating content on YouTube has played a major role in helping me develop my voice and prepare for live speaking opportunities. One of the biggest things it has taught me is how to be confident, authentic and comfortable being myself in front of an audience. When you consistently create content, you learn how to communicate your thoughts clearly, connect with viewers and keep people engaged through your personality, energy and message.
I’ve been a content creator on YouTube for about four years and during that time, I’ve experienced the highs and lows that come with building a platform. I’ve seen videos perform well and I’ve also experienced moments where views, likes, comments or monetization didn’t always meet expectations. Those experiences taught me resilience, patience and consistency. Content creation is definitely hard work and not for the weak because it requires dedication, creativity and the ability to keep going even when growth is slow.
What I’ve learned over the years is that people connect most with content that feels real and relatable. If audiences can relate to your message, your experiences or your personality, they will continue to watch and support you. That lesson has helped shape the way I approach public speaking as well. I don’t want to sound overly scripted or disconnected from people — I want audiences to feel like they are hearing from someone genuine who understands real-life experiences and challenges.
YouTube has also helped me become more comfortable speaking on different topics, organizing my thoughts and adapting my communication style for different audiences. All of those skills translate directly into live speaking opportunities. In many ways, YouTube has become a training ground that continues to prepare me for larger stages and bigger conversations in the future.
As you look ahead, what types of events or audiences are you most excited to speak in front of, and what core message do you want them to walk away with?
As I look ahead, I’m most excited about speaking at events that focus on entrepreneurship, small business growth, networking and innovation. I would love the opportunity to speak at events such as small business expos, franchise shows, entrepreneurship conferences and business networking events where people are actively looking for motivation, education and real-world insight. I also enjoy speaking to audiences that are interested in social media, content creation, customer service and building brands from the ground up.
In the past, I’ve had opportunities to speak on different social media podcasts related to food, grocery and package delivery which allowed me to share my experiences and perspectives with a wider audience. Those conversations helped me realize how important it is to have open discussions about entrepreneurship, customer relationships and adapting to changing industries. I enjoy connecting with people from different backgrounds because every audience brings a different energy and perspective to the conversation.
The core message I want audiences to walk away with is simple: if you have an idea, a dream or a goal to become an entrepreneur, business owner or content creator, you should pursue it. Too many people hold themselves back because of fear, doubt or worrying about what others may think. I want people to understand that success does not come from being perfect — it comes from being consistent, authentic and willing to learn through experience.
I also want people to remember the importance of being genuine. You will never be able to satisfy or please everyone and that’s okay. What matters most is staying true to yourself, keeping it real and building your brand or business in a way that reflects who you truly are. People can sense authenticity and genuine connections are what create lasting relationships, loyal audiences and long-term success.
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