Michael Foley

Michael Foley knows how to tell a story. Whether leading expeditions during his tenure as an Outward Bound instructor in Montana, reassuring novice sailors while traversing the Panama Canal, or helping executives pack a punch in a board presentation, Michael is committed to living outside of his comfort zone while encouraging others to do the same. As a result, he has a catalog of humorous tales and insights that have been at the core of his success during his twenty-eight plus years as an educator, corporate trainer, consultant and coach.

In 1996, Michael founded Clarity Central®, a consulting firm specializing in communications skills training and interpersonal effectiveness. Through his trainings and speaking engagements at Clarity Central®, he has had the opportunity to work with over 30,000 participants across a variety of industries including finance, private equity, manufacturing, military, software, pharmaceuticals, food service, and non-profits. Prior to his consulting work, Michael excelled in business development for General Electric where he was selected division MVP and achieved President's Club status; he knows firsthand what it takes to differentiate one's self in the marketplace. He has subsequently developed courses that are academically rigorous, applicable and powerful. 

Michael holds a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an M.A. in Human Development from St. Mary's University, an M.B.A. from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management, and a certificate in Executive Coaching from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. He is a contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Kellogg Insight, and in 2014 he was recognized by the National Speakers Association as a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), the highest international recognition for professional speakers. Outside of work, he is a licensed USCG Captain and, when not spending time with his family in Chicago, can most likely be found on his sailboat listening to the wind, waves, and creaking teak.