When Michelle Maralit, a Certified Management Accountant (Australia), stepped into leadership, she quickly realized that leading a team isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about guiding others to find theirs. “One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about guiding and empowering others to succeed,” she told Financial Adviser PH.
Michelle started her career in finance with a laser focus on numbers. But as she climbed the corporate ladder, her role evolved—fast. “I went from focusing purely on financial management to balancing strategic finance planning, operations, and people management,” she said. Suddenly, leadership wasn’t about the spreadsheet. It was about people, vision, and impact.
For Michelle, true leadership means inspiring with clarity and delivering with accountability. “I lead with charismatic leadership,” she shared. “I inspire and motivate my team through vision, confidence, and strong personal connections.” But over time, she’s learned that inspiration needs to be matched with structure. “Motivation is important, but it needs to be paired with clear strategies and measurable goals to drive real results,” she added.
Empowering others also means being willing to make tough calls and uphold standards. “Decision-making isn’t always black and white,” Michelle noted, “and sometimes you have to make tough calls based on what’s best for the long term.” These moments taught her to lean into clarity, transparency, and trust—even when it’s difficult.
Her approach to team success is simple but powerful: help others grow into leaders themselves. By investing in development, recognizing strengths, and setting people up for wins, Michelle creates a culture where performance and purpose go hand in hand.
If there’s one message future leaders should take away from her journey, it’s this: “Set a clear vision, lead with empathy, and never underestimate the power of empowering others.” That’s how you build a team that doesn’t just work hard—but thrives.
