We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Nirumandrad. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The first time I jumped out of a plane, it was supposed to be a one-time thing. I was overweight, unsure of myself, and definitely not someone people would describe as a thrill-seeker. But I said yes anyway.

When the door opened, I was terrified — and completely alive. That jump didn’t just change my hobbies; it changed how I see myself. Skydiving taught me how to assess risk instead of run from it. It taught me preparation, trust, and the power of stepping into discomfort.

Captured Sky grew out of that perspective — wanting to freeze those suspended, in-between moments where fear turns into freedom.

What I’ve learned is that the biggest risks aren’t reckless. They’re intentional. They’re the ones that stretch you into someone new. And for me, it all started with saying yes to a jump I almost talked myself out of.

Michelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Michelle — a skydiver and the artist behind Captured Sky.

I started skydiving almost on a whim, and it turned into nearly two decades of life in the air. When you spend that much time in freefall, the sky stops feeling like a backdrop. She becomes something alive — vast, powerful, humbling.

Captured Sky was born from a longing. Photos and videos are beautiful, but they’re still flat. I wanted something tangible. Something I could touch. Something that carried the feeling of altitude, motion, light — even when I was back on the ground.

My work is about connection. It’s about holding a piece of something that once felt infinite and untouchable. It’s my way of bringing the sky closer — of keeping her with me even in her absence.

Skydiving gave me perspective. Captured Sky gives me a way to preserve it.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Right now I’m in the middle of a pivot. I built Captured Sky out of decades in the sky — it’s deeply meaningful work that captures something tangible from freefall and turns it into art you can actually hold.

But this season of life looks different. I’m a mother of five and currently building The Human Milky Way, a health-tech startup focused on improving access to human milk. The work feels urgent and time-sensitive, and it requires my full attention.

Stepping back from Captured Sky hasn’t been about walking away — it’s about prioritizing impact in this chapter. Creative work moves in seasons. For now, my energy is grounded in building something that supports families at scale.

The sky isn’t going anywhere.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes — my children and my family.

Everything I build, whether it’s Captured Sky or The Human Milky Way, is driven by the desire to create a life where my children can see what’s possible. I want them to grow up watching their parents be ambitious, build things from scratch, and pursue meaningful work.

My creative journey has always been about perspective — whether that’s literally changing vantage points in the sky or building systems that improve life on the ground. But underneath it all is the same goal: to create opportunity, stability, and impact that extends beyond me.

If my work helps open doors for them — or shows them they’re capable of reaching their highest goals — then it’s doing exactly what it’s meant to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thehumanmilkyway.com
• Instagram: @capturedskyart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-nirumandrad-442a312bb/