Hello. I’m Dr Michelle Pizer (pronounced Pie-zer).
If you want to accelerate your leadership and learn to manage people (and yourself) like a pro, I can help.
After 15 years in the corporate world (e.g. National Mutual (now AMP), Ernst & Young, Roy Morgan Research, Museum Victoria), I discovered I liked the people aspect of being a boss best: from being the go-to person for resolving emotional situations to helping people develop and reach their potential.
Today I’ve combined this corporate background with over 15 years of counselling and coaching experience to the work that I do. All backed by academic rigour. I’m a PhD level endorsed organisational and counselling psychologist. It’s an unusual combination of experience, knowledge and skill.
If you’re ready to grow, I can help.
Executive Coaching
Successful leaders know that to be the boss you want to be, sometimes you need to address difficult, internal barriers. It can be the key to reaching your potential, the fast track to lifting your game and leading with confidence.
At other times, to stay on your game you need a reality check or a sounding board. You may not know who to trust or you may not want anyone to know what you’re thinking. You’re looking for someone who’ll be clear and direct, with the ability to help you cut through the corporate BS (or even your own) to get to the real issues so you don’t waste time.
And if a more senior manager, a board member or perhaps HR tells you there have been complaints about your management style and to change your game , you’ll need a gentler hand. Someone who’ll be sensitive and adept in getting you out of the emotionally fraught situation you find yourself in. This is Boss Whispering®.
The first step in the process is designed to make sure we address the right issues in your Boss Whispering® Coaching program. You’ll quickly learn how to change your game and improve your management style. It’s a constructive, respectful and confidential approach to overcoming the negative perceptions, stopping the complaints and earning respect.
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Executive coaching helps you master the art of being bossy at work. But what’s that worth if, when you go home, you’re not living a life you love?
Sometimes it’s not business, it’s personal. Very personal. Your mental health is at stake.
Counselling and psychotherapy helps with mental health problems. You’ll feel better wherever you take yourself. Plus there’s the added bonus that you’ll discover more confidence, contentment and connection to those around you.
Why I do what I do
An early lesson about dignity
My dad was in the rag trade and I used to earn a little pocket money in the summer holidays working in the factory. Mainly I’d pack and fold t-shirts, first into plastic bags and then into boxes. Back then I had dreams of being a fashion designer and I loved to sew. One day when I was about 14, dad arranged for me to join the sewers. I was given the job of overlocking the seam that goes from the wrist to the waist of this enormous pile of trackie tops: seam, after seam, after seam. By mid-morning I was all seamed out. I turned to the sewer next to me and said, “This is so boring. I don’t know how you can stand it”. Word travelled fast. Dad was appalled: I’d offended these hard working, loyal employees and I felt ashamed. I had to apologise and I was fired. I was sent back to packing and folding, tail between my legs. I’d been promoted too soon.
Creating better workplaces
It was then that I learned an invaluable lesson about the importance of dignity at work. It has inspired me to work with people to make sure their work lives and upward transitions are without unhappiness, wear and tears. And to create workplaces where dignity and hope are part of the bottom line. Ultimately, through executive coaching my goal is to make careers and corporations work seamlessly.
Career history
I have worked in a variety of roles, in different organisations and industries – with psychology as the core strength. First I joined the graduate program at National Mutual (now AMP), initially in marketing before managing all the people and performance requirements of the accounting and actuarial division. After rejecting an offer to manage human resources at National Mutual NZ, I was a management consultant at Ernst & Young before managing the customised research division of Roy Morgan Research and the research and evaluation department at Museum Victoria.
After 15 years in the corporate world I discovered that I like the people aspect of being a boss best. And I had a knack for it. I changed tack and became an honorary counsellor at Doncare (a community agency). But I started to miss corporate work. It was then, in 2001, that I crafted my ideal job and set up shop in the Melbourne CBD.
Along the way I also spent a lot of time at university (see credentials). I’m a PhD level psychologist with endorsement in both counselling and organisational psychology.
Want to work with me?
Contact me today to book a session or find out more. If you want to lead better, I can help.
Professional Bio
For over 30 years Dr Michelle Pizer has worked with senior and middle managers across multiple corporate, private and government sector organisations to improve their careers, personal lives and workplaces. She is an executive coach, organisational and counselling psychologist and an experienced line manager.
Michelle’s practice grew out of a career she started at 14, working in the rag trade and on the factory floor. She was quickly promoted to sewing seams. It was too soon. She found it tedious and shamefully offended her co-workers by asking them how they could stand such a boring job! Fired after only half a day, she learned early on about dignity and respect in the workplace. From this valuable life lesson Michelle was inspired to work with people to make sure that their work lives and upward transitions are without unhappiness, wear and tears. Ultimately, she makes careers and corporations work seamlessly.
Michelle is an organisational and counselling psychologist, and an approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. She is a member of the Boss Whispering Institute and the Centre for Executive Coaching. She is a published author, has presented at local and international conferences and won a number of awards for her work. She has been quoted in various media including Australian Business Insider, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Executive Style, Channel 9 and 6PR.
