Lydia Michael to receive Ilitch School 2018 Emerging Leader Award

The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business has announced the 2018 recipient of its signature Emerging https://ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu/news-images/michael-headshot.jpgLeader Award. Alumna Lydia Michael will be honored at the school’s Annual Recognition and Awards Program on Monday, Oct. 15, at the Detroit Athletic Club. 

Michael is the founder and CEO of Blended Collective, a multicultural marketing, branding, and strategy agency in Detroit. Michael says she built the agency on the core values of authenticity, culture, and diversity.

“Unlike traditional marketing agencies, Blended Collective invests deeply in its own brand outside of client projects,” Michael said. “Because we are passionate about connecting people of different cultural backgrounds, we bring culture and diversity not only to our work, but into our community as well.” 

This year, Blended Collective launched “Blended”, its quarterly speaker event series to spark conversations among creative and business talent extending across cultures and industries to highlight their authentic, cultural, and diverse experiences.

Michael, who graduated from Wayne State University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, began her career in global marketing and management in the entertainment and music industries. In 2016, she earned her MBA in International Management from Pforzheim University outside of Stuttgart, Germany. During her time in Germany, Michael worked on projects with Deloitte and L’Oréal before returning to the United States to begin her entrepreneurial journey.

She currently serves as Vice-Chair of Partnerships & Collaboration of the NextGen Committee at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and is the Detroit Alumni Network Lead of international honor society Beta Gamma Sigma. 

Sponsorship opportunities for this event are now available. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Steve Townsend at smtownsend@wayne.edu or 313-577-0202. 

View all news stories