Michelle Maldonado is founder and CEO of Lucenscia (pronounced loo-SENSE-see-ah), a firm dedicated to human flourishing, emotional intelligence, and mindful business transformation.   

Michelle’s work focuses on leadership and organizational development, performance, and impact at the pivotal intersection of mindfulness, emotional intelligence, authenticity, and compassion, all nestled on a foundation of neuroscience and taught through an equity lens.   

She advises leaders from around the world and across corporate, government, non-profit/NGO and higher-ed in her trusted capacity as consultant, advisor, facilitator, and coach. She also is a lead curriculum designer for Peace on Purpose, is faculty for 1440 Multiversity's Leadership Center, and a senior fellow for Bill George's True North Leadership program.    

Michelle has been recognized as one of the “12 Powerful Women in the Mindfulness Movement,” as “Woman of The Year,” and a “Top Corporate Leader.” Her work has been featured in the DQ Institute in association with the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Global Engagement Summit, Mindful Magazine, and Barnard Magazine, as well as the Huff Post, Thrive Global and the meditation apps Wisdom Labs’ Wise@Work, Insight Timer and Breethe.   

She is the first woman and first person of color to serve as a state representative for her district in the Virginia House of Delegates. Michelle lives in Northern Virginia with her family and is a graduate of Barnard College at Columbia University and The George Washington University School of Law.