Michelle Latvala

Michelle Latvala is an experienced leader, facilitator, and author with a deep commitment to humanity, nature, and authenticity. She led Spirit Rock Meditation Center as Executive Director from 2011-2022, was Vice President of Leadership Development at Backroads Active Travel from 2000-2010, and currently mentors leaders and non-profit organizations in leadership development and organizational strategy. Michelle’s book Between Latitudes was published by Green Writers Press, profoundly addressing themes of climate, ancestry, and home through poetry. Michelle recently founded Insight Outside, a series of remote programs that combine meditation, writing, and wildersness, and is part of an international cohort funded by the Bess Family Foundation, centered around expanding Buddhist teachings in nature. She graduated from Stanford University with Phi Betta Kappa honors in Social Psychology. Michelle migrates thoughtfully with her beloveds between responsibilities in northern California and eastern Alaska, where she built a cabin at the same latitude her Finnish ancestors lived for centuries in the circumpolar boreal forest. Michelle serves as a core faculty at the Institute for Conversational Leadership for the year-long Foundations of Leadership program, co-facilitates the online Salon designed specifically for Organizational Leaders, and offers individual coaching and mentoring.