Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Blondheim.
Hi Michele, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Cliff notes version of a family-fueled, purpose-led, CSR-architect.
I was born in New York and grew up in Miami, with my mom, dad and younger sister. I attended Florida State University (Go Noles!) and earned my Master’s in Social Work. My career began, not counting my many years as a hostess and server, as a Victim Advocate for the Miami Beach Police Department, where I was embedded in the Criminal Investigations Division, working directly with detectives on domestic violence cases.
After a few years, I moved to Atlanta, to be closer to my sister, one of my best life decisions. I found my community, met my husband, and truly rooted. On the career front, I transitioned into nonprofit leadership, taking on the role of Director of Development for an emergency shelter for children, working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to develop and execute fundraising programs, establish strategic corporate partnerships, and lead cross-functional collaboration with marketing, finance and program teams.
After several years in the nonprofit sector, I made another transition, this time into the corporate world. And for the last 20+ years, I’ve built Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments, teams, programs and partnerships that are woven in company culture and aligned with business strategy. I like to say that my role allows me to use my social worker heart and business mind. CSR offers a unique balance of integrating purpose into profit. Creating impact that people can feel—and the business can measure—is where I live.
My parents instilled in me the value of volunteering. As small business owners, they didn’t have much free time, but they always found meaningful ways to help others. Outside of work, I serve on the board of directors of Open Hand Atlanta and the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC). I’m also a member of the Resource Development Committee for Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS), a member of the Community Engagement Committee and Speaker’s Bureau for Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI), and an Advocate member of OnBoard.
On the personal side, I’m a proud #boymom. Weekends are packed with sports-filled fun—our oldest son is a catcher on his high school team and plays for the East Cobb Astros travel team, while our youngest is a freshman and a budding sports photographer. When I’m not cheering from the baseball field, I love cooking gourmet meals with my husband (Chef Hilly!), his Kamado Joe pizza is the best. I’m also a passionate bibliophile, reading nearly 100 books a year. Need a good recommendation? I have one or ten!
Fun book fact: During COVID, my best friend and I launched a mobile book swap. We were mask-clad and mini-van powered for an all-day adventure that spread book love and built community at a time it was needed most.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Reinvention after a detour. Less tender with time.
Challenges are a part of life. As I’ve gotten older, thanks to wisdom, experience, and a little perspective, I’ve come to see them as valuable life lessons and not just as hardships. While it’s never easy to recognize while you are in the throes, reflection with time has shown me that some of my most impactful lessons came from significant struggles and losses.
After 15 years with one company, my career path took a detour. That experience taught me resilience, clarity, and the power of reinvention. While it was a challenging moment in time, it ultimately became a turning point, one that pushed me to grow, refocus, and align more deeply with my purpose. It helped me to realize that finding fulfillment in the work you do matters more than where you do it.
The greatest personal loss I’ve experienced was the passing of my dad nine years ago. For a long time, I couldn’t talk about him, look at a photo, or recall a memory without tears. Not that crying is bad, just ask my therapist, but those first few years were consumed by grief. Time, reflection, and motherhood softened my grief. I spent quite a bit of time in grief counseling, and one lesson I learned—that applies far beyond grieving—is that time does soften the hard edges. Loss doesn’t disappear, but over time, it becomes less tender.
Fun reinvention fact: I bought personal thank-you notes for networking and interviews designed with one of my favorite mottos at the bottom: Do what you love, love what you do. It was a meaningful reinforcement for me and a subtle way to spotlight a bit of my personality.
We’ve been impressed with Aprio, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Culture and community catalyst. Mentor in every moment.
I have a very long title: Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Executive Director, Aprio Foundation. And I wear two distinct hats at Aprio, leading the firm’s CSR strategy and overseeing philanthropic initiatives through the Aprio Foundation. As you can imagine both roles are very much connected and aligned.
I’m extremely proud to drive Aprio’s commitment to social impact through innovative programs that align with business objectives. I get to create and scale meaningful community engagement opportunities for #TeamAprio members across the U.S. and internationally. I also serve on the Aprio for All Advisory Committee, advising the firm’s employee Impact Groups and mentoring participants in the leadership program. I proudly embrace the responsibility of helping build belonging, within my firm and across the communities we serve.
Mentoring is part of my love language, from formal leadership programs to personal insight discussions, and every interaction in between. To me, mentoring is a powerful tool for personal and professional development. It fosters trust, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across teams and roles, strengthening culture, deepening engagement, and creating a sense of belonging within an organization. I’ve had some amazing mentors throughout my career, many of whom are still in my inner circle, and for that I pay it forward.
Fun Mentoring Fact: Never pass up an opportunity to acknowledge a positive moment. One of the greatest compliments I ever received from a leader was being called “the lynchpin of the program.” I looked up the word to fully understand its meaning, and that moment has stayed with me. It continues to inspire me to offer thoughtful, specific compliments to those who contribute meaningfully to the programs and partnerships that I’m a part of.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Here for the marathon.
I consider myself a strategic risk taker—someone who embraces uncertainty when it aligns with purpose, innovation, and impact. I wasn’t always this way, but through career and life experiences, I’ve become much more comfortable navigating complex, high-stakes environments where decisions can have wide-reaching impact. Like launching bold CSR initiatives that can reshape a company’s image or impact. I often say I’m here for the marathon, not just the sprint. I see and work towards a long-term vision, even if it means going through some short-term setbacks for a greater payoff. I’m also an influencer—my DiSC profile is Di—so I try to inspire others to take smart risks, too. It’s one of the ways I help foster a culture of innovation while acknowledging that setbacks are an essential part of the journey.
Fun assessment fact: I’m a big fan of the DiSC assessment, a behavioral tool that measures Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. It helps individuals and teams improve communication, teamwork, and self-awareness by understanding their strengths, work preferences, and how to interact effectively with others. Let’s just say, anyone who knows me and has taken DiSC isn’t surprised by my strong Di profile. It’s a reflection of how I lead, connect, and communicate.
Pricing:
- Ciji Townsend
- Angela Dodson
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