When he was 18, Michael dropped his speech class in college and swore he would never take the stage again after a humiliating presentation. Today, Michael is a Game-Changing speaker and Best-Selling author who has impacted thousands of people with his message of resilience. 
From students, to athletes, to leaders, to business professionals, Michael helps people from all walks of life take personal responsibility for their lives and reconnect to their purpose. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, he immigrated to the United States just before the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War and is the grandson of a ‘Siege of Leningrad’ and Dachau camp survivor. Michael's master storytelling ability leaves audiences exhilarated and equipped to act on their inspiration. His success principles empower audiences to smash fears, limitations, and passive, excuse-oriented mindsets. Michael reveals how the personal choices we make, the attitudes we carry, and the principles we choose to live by, affect our mental health and performance, and determine the success of our lives and organizations. 
Before becoming a best-selling author and motivational speaker, Michael worked as an IT Professional and suffered from crippling depression. Desperate to revive his long-lost enthusiasm for life and opportunity in the land of the free, Michael committed to a series of positive life changes when he discovered a tattered personal development book in the small corner of the local library. He had a shift in perspective that changed his outlook on life and once again opened his mind to endless possibility. From there he committed to unearthing his buried dreams and helping others do the same.