Michelle Shafer

Principal

Michelle Shafer is a Principal with BanyanGlobal. She is experienced in systemic, interpersonal and intrapersonal levels of organizational dynamics, including resolving group conflict and empowering owners to lead purposefully and gracefully through change.

Prior to Banyan, Michelle worked as a Consultant with OXYGY Management Consulting, a boutique firm that offers a collaborative approach to complex business challenges for Fortune 500 companies across many industries, including retail and consumer goods, financial services and life sciences. While at OXYGY, Michelle leveraged collaboration, change management and capability building to enable leaders and turn risks and opportunities into impactful, sustainable solutions.

During her time at OXYGY, Michelle received her Master’s in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, where she concentrated her studies in organizational development, group dynamics and conflict management.

In her earlier career, Michelle worked for multiple non-profits in the Greater Boston Area. At a residential treatment center for at-risk youth, Michelle supported and educated both the children and their families to resolve conflict, build communication capabilities and restore relationships. At BanyanGlobal, Michelle draws on her time working with families to supplement her experience in management consulting and organizational psychology. “I use the perspective I gained working for the residential treatment center to better understand the complexity and potential impact of family businesses,” Michelle says. “It helps me appreciate the challenges family members face as they shape the future of their enterprise.”

Michelle received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hamilton College. She also studied Visual Arts, and still enjoys painting, sculpting and other forms of creative expression. Her other interests include volleyball, live music and spending time with her friends and family in the outdoors. Michelle lives in Boston with her Great Pyrenees dog, Sir Paul McCartney—Paul for short.