We recently connected with Michelle Flood and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Taking risks has always been a natural part of my makeup. One of the biggest leaps I made was leaving college
early. I was studying filmmaking at the School of Visual Arts, but I felt like I didn’t quite fit in with peers who had
more financial backing. Instead of continuing down a path that didn’t feel right, I chose to carve my way. I left school,
took on various creative roles, eventually worked at MTV, and almost became a VJ.

Leaving a secure full-time job (the only 9-to-5 ever– hah! more like 24/7 always on call office job I’ve ever done) at a digital entertainment company during the 90’s tech boom was another significant risk. Despite relevant responsibilities and promises of career growth (which never materialized), a lavish lifestyle dripping in perks like driving my boss”s Range Rover, endless free shows and weekends in the Hamptons masked the fact that I wasn’t growing professionally. So, I chose to step away, starting fresh as a production assistant at MTV. It was a humbling experience, but it taught me the importance of trusting my instincts and bouncing back stronger.

My upbringing was nomadic—moving world- wide every six months to a year. This constant change taught me resilience and adaptability. It taught me that home is where the heart is and gave me the confidence to take risks, knowing that wherever I go, I can make it work. This adaptability and resilience have been crucial in my career as well. They have allowed me to embrace change, learn new skills, and thrive in diverse work environments. I’ve learned that trusting myself and my intuition is not just important; it’s essential. Taking risks is not about being fearless; it’s about believing in your ability to navigate whatever comes your way, and that belief gives you the
confidence to succeed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Absolutely! I’m Michelle Flood. As a native, I consider New York City my base, though I’ve lived in many many places and continue to have multiple homes. I’ve lived by a more “School of Life’ experience, meeting diver people and navigating various situations, which greatly influenced my perspectives and work. I am extremely fortunate to work for some of the top brands and the creative experts surrounding them. Ultimately, I see myself as a visual storyteller. My roles include production designer, stylist, set designer, producer, and creative director. It’s hard to pin it down to one title because my
work spans many facets of creativity. I enjoy the variety, I feel that it adds to my skills.

For a decade, I’ve been part of the Governors Ball music festival, curating spaces that blend luxury and artistic integrity. It’s a challenge that taps into all my skills as a creative and a leader, and one that I love. I have to manage a large team, work within tight deadlines and budgets, stay focused, be open to feedback, and maintain a collaborative approach. I love nothing more than seeing my team using their genius to problem solve and use their creative powers to build amazing visual delights.

I started by decorating my own living spaces and then volunteering at events which morphed into doing window displays for luxury stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Ralph Lauren, Harry Winston, and Tiffany. These experiences were invaluable, teaching me about aesthetics, creativity, crafting, and the importance of creating immersive environments. Also being deeply exposed to other cultures and their aesthetics and ways early on really molded me into a young global stylist.

I’ve always had a colorful & vivid imagination, even as a kid. Music and album art profoundly influenced me, especially from artists like Elton John and the Rolling Stones. Growing up in different countries, music was a constant touchstone that made me feel at home. This blend of diverse humanity, creativity, storytelling, and adaptability defines my aesthetic.

Part of my childhood authentic imagination was an organic belief that I was god’s BFF. That belief gave me an automatic curiosity towards spirituality. Astrology became significant in my teens when I had a transformative reading that resonated deeply. It felt like being truly seen for the first time and coming home. Over the following years, I learned to read charts and saw them as stories unfolding. This detective work, piecing together narratives, aligns perfectly with my passion for storytelling. Astrology has helped me understand myself, friends & family and my clients. It’s a tool for sharpening my deep empathy and connection, enriching my work as a visual storyteller.

I’ve always been inspired by female storytellers like Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, and Taylor Swift. Their resilience and creative visions resonate with my own journey of crafting meaningful narratives and experiences. They are poets and forces of nature, pushing creative and professional boundaries, making their voices heard often against difficult challenges and odds. There is something undeniably compelling and moving about a woman on a mission, unshakeable in her purpose. That’s what drives
me, this is my tribe.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Building relationships rooted in integrity, hard work and kindness is at the heart of growing a clientele. Treating
every interaction with respect and authenticity lays the foundation for lasting connections. In the creative industry,
being able to adapt and collaborate with clients is major — a skill honed through my upbringing, which taught me to
navigate change with ease. This approach extends to whom you hire and how you treat your team.  Your crew is
an extension of you, and their experience is key to your success. Networking within a community that shares your own passions and values fosters genuine connections. In essence, it’s about being true to yourself and your craft

while remaining open to the needs and aspirations of your clients. Another significant aspect is problem-solving. More than being a creative visionary is required; you must handle client demands and be flexible. Clients will have specific
needs and changes, so you must adapt without being too precious about your work. People call me because they
know I’m easy to work with and won’t panic when things change at the last minute. As a pro, it’s important to stay calm and adaptable. However, it’s also essential to balance being honest with your clients while hearing their needs. You’re hired for your expertise, so it’s about bringing that to the table while staying true to yourself, your brand, and theirs. In essence, fight for the right things, pick your battles wisely, and always prioritize professionalism and respect.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One defining moment is when I got pregnant. I was putting my first house on the market in LA (after painstakingly renovating it) and was planning to move to Topanga Canyon to build a house. But then my partner revealed he was moving to Miami. This was a difficult decision for me. I had to put my career on hold, leave behind a life I had built in LA, and adapt to a new city. But I chose to embrace this new chapter, seeing it as an opportunity for personal growth and to explore new creative avenues.

In Miami, it was a challenge finding work that paid what I was used to. I took a part-time window display job at Tiffany, which I hated (who can do creative display work in a suit?!). I started flying back to New York for jobs and eventually moved back when a friend offered me a role as a stylist for a design makeover TV show, allowing me to balance work and motherhood. This role reignited my passion for storytelling through design and that story continues… The pandemic in 2020 brought another wave of challenges. At the peak of my career, I was working on Stevie Nicks’ dressing room for the Gov Ball, to me I had “arrived”. Then the festival was canceled. The sudden halt to my work led to a deep depression. Luckily I quickly saw the major changes coming and took steps like moving out of my apartment to minimize expenses. I relied on renting out my properties for income, which fortunately helped sustain me. The pandemic forced me to reinvent myself once again. Rebuilding my career was tough, making me question my path. But eventually, I bounced back, even working on another festival where Stevie Nicks was a headliner! These experiences taught me the importance of trusting myself and being flexible. Resilience means facing challenges head-on, feeling disappointment, and staying open to new opportunities. The universe presents unexpected paths, and saying yes to them is the only choice for me.

Deep gratitude & special thanks to my dear friend Sheri Radel Rosenberg -Freelance Creative Director, Creator of the Unapologetic Woman and Style & Editor at the Ageist for her killer jumpstart of this exchange. And BIG shout and honored to have been thought of my the insanely talented Kathy Biehl – trusted Astrologer, Spiritual Guide and wicked Writer.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.floodstyle.com/
• Instagram: thefloodstyle
• Other: 917.406.5699