MICHELLE COURTNEY BERRY, ARTIST BIO
Michelle Courtney Berry is a globally experienced speaker, executive coach, wellness strategist, actor, writer, occasional director, playwright, performer, and best-selling author of Keeping Calm in Chaos: How to Work Well, Live Well, and Love Abundantly, No Matter What, known for empowering the world’s visionary leaders in ways to lead confidently, grow in purpose, and radically protect their health as they build impactful legacies.
An author, mompreneur, performer, actor, director, playwright, Usui and Karuna Reiki Master Teacher, and the second Poet Laureate of Tompkins County. Favorite roles include: Loretta/Narrator in the “Trap Door” (The Cherry Arts); “Mother Land” (Kitchen Theatre Company – April 2015); "You CAN Get Over It," her sold-out stand-up comedy show (Hilton Ithaca 2014); various parts in “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” (Actors Workshop of Ithaca- 2014 & 2013); "Kate" in "Good People" (Homecoming Players-2014); “Hair” in “The Vagina Monologues,” (Cornell University- 2013); “Breathe” (Variety Show-Theatre Incognita-2012); the sold-out solo/world premiere performances of Labor (2006) and The Month of Not Speaking, (Counter-Culture-Guest Artist-KTC 2003 and the Month of Not Speaking (Geneva Performing Arts Festival 2004); “Claire” in Proof (Hangar Theatre- 2002); Woman #4 in Cornered in the Dark (Kitchen Sink Production, 2000); and “The Lady in Blue” in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (Renaissance Theatre Company, 1999). Michelle was named the "Best of Ithaca Actor/Actress" Award in winter 2014 from the Ithaca Times Readers’ Poll and has received both a Community Arts Partnership Award for Fiction and a Cave Canem Fellowship in Poetry. In summer 2014, she closed the first Ithaca Festival poetry event, followed by an introduction from Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick.
Favorite residences (in addition to Cave Canem) include: Fine Arts Work Center (FAWC) in Provincetown, Cape Cod; The Bread Loaf Writers Conference in Middlebury, VT, and The Hurston-Wright Writers Conference in Moraga, CA. Michelle has appeared on "Good Morning America," covered The White House and Capitol Hill as a TV reporter, and opened for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Dorothy Cotton (both at the State Theatre of Ithaca); for Mos Def and Amiri Baraka (in Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn); for Howard Zinn in Boston, MA; for Gayle Danley (National Poetry Slam winner at the Jewish Community Center of Vestal, NY); for Nikki Giovanni (Third World Festival at Cornell University); and for the legendary Dr. Maya Angelou (at the Anderson Center at Binghamton University). Michelle has also interviewed and shared the stage with award-winning children’s author Louis Sachar at Kulp Auditorium in Ithaca. Michelle's “Love Letter to Dr. King," written and performed in response to September 11, received a standing ovation at the Nuyorican Poets' Cafe in NYC. Michelle was also ranked 15th in the world at the 2001 National Poetry Slam Festival in Seattle, later that year. Michelle has collaborated with numerous regionally, nationally and internationally famous musicians (cellists Sera Smolen, Chris White and Hank Roberts) and musicians Fe Nunn, Dwight Carroll and Donna the Buffalo in numerous stage performances, including “The Ithaca Festival,” and "The Light in Winter Festival, which opened with her original “Ballad of Andrew Sartin,” dedicated to survivors of Hurricane Katrina and, in another year, featured a poetic collaboration (also for “Light in Winter Festival”) alongside Nobel Prize-winning chemist and poet Roald Hoffman. Michelle also collaborated in song, spoken word, and by writing original verse for the silent film “The Black Pirate,” with Fe Nunn at the award-winning Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (F.LE.F.F.) at Cinemapolis (in Ithaca, NY). Michelle has written four plays ("Song for Root and River"- which she also directed; "The Month of Not Speaking (adapted by the book by the same title), "Labor;" and "Mother Land," three chapbooks of poetry: "Awe;" "In the Blood the Memory," the manuscript, Necessary Labors in the Land of the Frog King; two stand-up comedy shows: the SRO "Mother Land” and “You CAN Get Over It," (sold-out in Nov 2014) and the well-received artistic memoir "Breathe” filling the Unitarian Church of Ithaca to (almost) capacity in 2012. Michelle was also the first poet published by Horticulture. Her work has also appeared in Northwestern University Press, Random House, Obsidian II, nocturnes: a re(view) of the literary arts, Paterson Literary Review, Oxford Magazine, IthacaLit, and others.
Born in Manhattan and raised in the Catskill Mountains in a tiny log cabin her father built in a hamlet (Narrowsburg) on the Delaware River, Michelle is an American artist of African (primarily Nigerian) and English/European heritages. She holds a graduate degree in Communication from Cornell University (where she was a Cornell Fellow) and a dual BA degree in English, Literature & Rhetoric and Political Science from Binghamton University, where she was a Presidential Scholar, Scripps-Howard Foundation Scholar, and Commencement Speaker. A former Ignatian Scholar at Le Moyne College in Executive Leadership, she transferred to LSU Shreveport, where she is in her last year of a doctoral program in Leadership Studies, with a focus on workplace wellness.
What People Say about Michelle Courtney Berry
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Nancy Rosen, LICSW, Psychotherapist and Life Coach
“Michelle is multi-talented and inspirational. As the keynote speaker at my agency's annual meeting, she deeply engaged and touched every participant. Her presentation was dynamic, exciting and heart warming. I have also experienced Michelle as an actress, poet, singer and activist--she is outstanding in all her roles. She is a treasure to the community.”
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VirginPulse Thrive Summit Attendees (2022)
“Loved Michelle Courtney Berry's presentation she was spectacular!!!”
“ALL of the speakers were incredible, but I particularly loved Michelle Courtney Berry. I loved that the focus was mental wellbeing and feel like that is the foundation of all wellbeing, so please keep this as a primary topic area.”
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Svante Myrick, Former Mayor, City of Ithaca
“Michelle is truly a gifted coach and amazing speaker. She helped me unlock my potential, not by teaching me, not by giving me something that wasn’t already inside of myself, but by having faith in me and showing me how to transform my life. I’m a product of her teachings.”
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Alan J. Cohen, Former Mayor, City of Ithaca
“What comes through most in Michelle’s speaking is her passion for everything she does, which translates into an infectious enthusiasm that others cannot help but share. When she speaks, you experience the topic with her in an tangible way that transcends any and all boundaries.”
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Richard A. Bucci, Former Mayor, City of Binghamton
“As a member of my cabinet, Michelle possessed solid communication skills and interacted positively with diverse constituencies. Most importantly, she enjoyed working with people.”
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Rob Pannell, 2013 Tewaaraton Award Recipient (Top LAX Player in the US)
“Something in my game was off and I wasn’t playing at the level I wanted to. After Michelle’s reiki energy work and wellness coaching I had one of the best practices of the year with multiple people coming up to me and commenting on my performance.”
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Brian DeYoung, NYS Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker at Berkshire Hathaway
“I have known Michelle over a decade and worked with her for a few years. Michelle is a well known, enthusiastic coach. She will bring energy to your team and a unique perspective to your problem-solving situations. She gets the job done and brings in powerful results. She assesses and collaborates and then gets to work, boots on the ground to make things happen. I have enjoyed working with her, and almost weekly people will mention a project she was involved in. Make it happen, consult with Michelle, or have her speak to your group.”
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Danielle Klock, Portland, Oregon
“I went to Michelle to get unstuck. What I feel today is serenity, and an absolute absence of anger and fear. I feel at peace, gentle, alive. Thank you for your tremendous care, skill, and beauty. What a gift you are.”
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Priyanka H., MD, Psychiatrist, Vancouver, BC
“You’ve changed my life forever. I missed your voice in my meditation back home, but I was able to channel the way you made me feel that morning at our retreat. You have a way to connect people to the divine and I hope you know how special you are!”
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Angelique Rewers, CEO of Boldhaus
“Michelle is one of the most impressive people I’ve met in a long time.”
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Sonya K., MD, Harvard University
“Your meditation moved me and pulled me closer to my heart’s intentions.”
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James Brown, retired CEO, Ithaca
“If you have the privilege and honor of attending any of Michelle’s shows, performances, or facilitations, you leave with joy, laughter, reflection, and many chances to lift your hearts, minds, emotional and physical health.”
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Cal Walker, Executive Director, Ithaca
“Michelle’s one-woman show Labor is the funniest play I’ve ever seen. From her business to volunteering to being an artist and elected official, Michelle is a blessing for our community.”
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Mary George Opperman, VP of HR, Cornell University
“Michelle gave a terrific presentation on stress, time and your bottom-line at our fall all-staff Human Resources gathering. She was very engaging and I know the group appreciated your humor and great advice.”
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Sandra R., CEO, Bogota, Columbia
“Michelle’s meditation took me to amazing places of peace where water was flowing and children were playing.”
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Brian Wilbur, Retired Fire Chief
“We asked Michelle Courtney Berry to be our keynote speaker and as always, Michelle exceeded my (and our) expectations. Her use of humor, empathy, and compassion in her unique and effective (and animated) style was refreshing and held our members in rapt attention as she took them with her on a fascinating exploration of her experiences and observations on life. She is an outstanding presenter and equally outstanding person that I can recommend without reservation!”
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Ken Harris, Former Practice Administrator, Guthrie
“I've had many opportunities to observe Michelle's excellent work. Michelle is unparalleled when it comes to the quality of her work, customer focus and reaching her goals. Michelle is easy to work with, yet possesses exacting standards, always ensuring that "can-do" attitude is front and center. Michelle's work is unhesitatingly recommended.”
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Richard A. Bitner, President, Chief Revenue Officer and Founding Partner of HousingWire Magazine
“As a classic Type A executive, I found working with Michelle absolutely transformative on every level. I’ve learned to meditate. I discovered true balance. Michelle has been a remarkable coach, intuitive healer, and steadfast confidant.”
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Bob Riter, Former Executive Dir., Cancer Resource Center
“Michelle served as a moderator with me for a localized version of the national Cancer Moonshot Summit, led by Vice President Joe Biden, that took place at the same time in Washington, DC. Her summation at the end of the event was a tour-de-force, virtuoso summary of both the words and spirit of the gathering. It was one of the most accomplished and poetic recaps of any event, many of us had ever heard. She is an astounding speaker and motivator! She was a stellar professional, and her words truly captured the hearts of the audience. She really is the best.”
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Richard Gallagher, CEO, Point of Contact Group
“Michelle is funny, genuine, accessible, and knows her stuff. She has a clear game plan to dramatically improve your life - in as little as seven days. Book Michelle and you'll be inspired, uplifted, and entertained!”
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Jon Harrod, Owner, SnugPlanet
“Working with Michelle as my coach, I felt an immediate improvement in my health and energy, and the people around me started to notice too. Michelle also helped me tap into things that were missing in my life. A year after we wrapped up our initial round of coaching, I’m still feeling the benefits. Weight loss, improved mood, more energy. And my contracting business has taken off! I’m carving out the time and focus to do the writing I always wanted to do. I appreciate all she did and I am looking forward to working together again in the future.”
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Scott Arthur-Wages, Sales Manager, NY
“God this lady is brilliant…seldom do I see more cogent, humanist/trans-humanist, PRACTICAL philosophy espoused by a single individual, and ALWAYS in the name of love and greater understanding of ourselves and our world.”
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Angela Noble-Grange, Faculty, Cornell University
“Michelle has an extraordinary talent with words. Like Maya Angelou, her words on the page are beautiful, surpassed only by hearing them spoken by her voice.”
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Puja J., CEO, Switzerland
“During her riveting meditation for Mindvalley, I experienced beautiful moments put into words during our healing group meditation. She is a gift!.”
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Richard Gallagher, CEO, Point of Contact Group
“Michelle is funny, genuine, accessible, and knows her stuff. She has a clear game plan to dramatically improve your life - in as little as seven days. Book Michelle and you’ll be inspired, uplifted, and entertained!”
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Morgan D., Entrepreneur, San Diego, CA
“Michelle’s reiki session and meditation transitioned me from a place of many blockages and great discomfort, to a place of energized vitality, and overall wellness. I can’t thank her enough for her gifts. I was able to continue on my path without pain.”
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Joan Spielholz, Researcher Infectious Diseases, Cornell Veterinary College
“Michelle’s original poem to civil rights icon Dorothy Cotton and her recitation reached heights of emotion that moved everyone in the State Theatre to their feet. My heart jumped in my chest.”
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Barbara Mink, Artist, Professor & Former Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature
“Michelle is a powerful, intelligent, and inspirational speaker who tailors her message to the audience and keeps results in mind. In terms of her performances they have all been memorable. Michelle is also a consummate professional: organized, creative, and effective. Her ability to deliver on- time and on- budget is enhanced by remarkable personal charisma; a package of assets that translates well in many different realms.”
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Mike Koplinka-Loehr, Former Chair, Tompkins County Legislature
“I consistently enjoyed working with Michelle in her capacity as Alderperson on Ithaca’s City Council. She was professional, insightful, most definitely a hard worker, and fun to interact with. I recommend her highly.”
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Song Trece, Global Performer, Artist
“Absolutely love this woman…she is the truth and the real deal. Michelle is an amazing life force, coach, and retreat leader. She really understood my business and has supported in my growth at every turn. Michelle is awesomely beautiful inside and out!’
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Wenmouth Williams, Emeritus Faculty Member, Ithaca College
“My experiences with Michelle at Ithaca College were exceptional. She worked tirelessly with our students. She was a task-master in setting high expectations for them which is critical to success not only in teaching but also as a public servant. I appeared before Common Council representing students concerning an issue of importance to them. I was impressed with Michelle's commitment” to objectivity and willingness to share her points of view--not always found in public bodies. I highly recommend her and without reservation.”
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Leslie Danks-Burke, Attorney-at-Law
“Michelle possesses the unusual and priceless trifecta: deep capacity for listening, exceptional communication skill, and wisdom. I have been enriched by my work with Michelle, and I'm deeply grateful to her for her teaching. Anyone seeking to find what lies within themselves, will be blessed by guidance from Michelle.”
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Grant Bradski, Initiative Coordinator, Senior Research Associate, As You Sow
“Overall we really loved Michelle’s leadership session with us during our retreat. From our wrap up, from what I remember all comments were positive and everyone seemed to get a lot out of our session with you. We will keep her in mind for future work with our teams.”

