A New Blueprint for Leadership
Through Jonathan Pitts-Wiley's lens at The Slate Studio, the rhythms of Michelle Carr's story come to life. In the vibrant halls of a Cuban club in Connecticut, young Michelle absorbed the rhythms of her heritage and the lessons of resilience that would shape her future. As the daughter of a Cuban immigrant who arrived in 1969 with nothing but clothes on her back, Michelle learned early the power of resourcefulness and creativity.
"My mom has taught me how to be really resourceful, and I think creative," Michelle reflects, her voice warm and admiring. "If you need something, whether to learn something or a connection, go out there and figure out creatively how you can move forward."
This spirit of innovation and connection would become the cornerstone of Michelle's leadership approach, guiding her from those weekend gatherings at the Cuban club to her current role as Executive Director of Leadership Rhode Island.
Michelle's journey to Rhode Island began when she arrived at Providence College as a Global Studies major. During her senior year, she fell in love with the city, venturing beyond the campus bubble to engage with the broader community. Her work with the International Institute of Rhode Island opened her eyes to the rich tapestry of cultures and experiences that make up the Ocean State.
"It was a beautiful place with just so many languages and people from all over the world," Michelle recalls, her eyes lighting up at the memory. "And I was like, I could really see myself working here."
This early exposure to Rhode Island's diverse communities laid the foundation for Michelle's future leadership development and community-building work. However, her participation in the Leadership Rhode Island program in 2014 genuinely crystallized her vision of what leadership could be.
"I met amazing people who were humble, and they were really trying to make a difference in a way that wasn't sort of selfish or fulfilling their own ego but really wanted to be good partners and wanted to make Rhode Island better," Michelle says, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
Inspired by this experience, Michelle joined the Leadership Rhode Island staff, eventually becoming the organization's first Deputy Director and now its Executive Director. In this role, she has spearheaded initiatives transforming Rhode Island's workforce culture.
One of Michelle's proudest achievements is the "Make Rhode Island Stronger" initiative, launched in response to a 2013 Gallup report that showed Rhode Island had the most actively disengaged workers in the nation. Michelle and her team saw this not as a generational issue but as a leadership challenge.
"We're like, this is a leadership issue," Michelle asserts. "It's not just like, well, those younger generations are different and don't work as hard. We're like, no. This is a leadership challenge."
Michelle and her team facilitated a culture change across the state using the Clifton Strengths assessment tool. They encouraged leaders to focus on employees' unique talents and strengths, and the results were remarkable.
"Flash forward three years later, they came out with the State of the American Workforce Report in 2017. And Rhode Island moved from 49th of actively disengaged workforce to first," Michelle says, pride evident in her voice. "So basically, we went from the worst to the best."
This dramatic turnaround proves Michelle's belief in the power of bringing people together and recognizing each individual's unique contributions. Her approach is rooted in her early experiences at the Cuban club, where she learned the importance of welcoming people and creating a sense of belonging.
"How do you bring people together at the table and say, 'I see you, I hear you, you're valued, you belong here, and how can we all work together to make things happen?' Michelle asks, encapsulating her leadership philosophy.
Michelle reflects on the word that best describes her impact: "transform."
"I think I've been transformed by so many people, their lives, their way that they've been mentors to me," she says softly. "And I hope that when I'm no longer here, people feel like my presence has helped them transform into the best they can be, into a world that they imagined or dreamed of."
The afternoon light catches Michelle's animated gestures as Jonathan captures these final moments of reflection. In Michelle Carr's story, we see the power of leadership rooted in empathy, curiosity, and a genuine desire to bring out the best in others. From the Cuban club of her childhood to the boardrooms and community centers of Rhode Island, Michelle has built a picture of connection and transformation, proving that authentic leadership is not about having all the answers but about asking the right questions and creating spaces where everyone can belong and thrive.
As she continues her work with Leadership Rhode Island, Michelle Carr is a result of what's possible when we embrace our diversity, recognize our shared humanity, and work together to create a community where everyone can reach their full potential. This proves the ripple effect of compassionate, inclusive leadership – a transformation that extends beyond any individual to touch an entire state's lives.
Portraits by Jonathan Pitts-Wiley
