Michelle Wright – United Kingdom (UK)

Michelle Wright (Chief Executive) trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and played the violin professionally. A chartered marketer, manager and fundraiser, Michelle founded Cause4 after leaving the London Symphony Orchestra, where her achievements in private sector fundraising led to her being judged the Best Upcoming Fundraiser at the National Fundraising Awards in 2008.

Since setting up Cause4 Michelle has undertaken major strategic and business development projects, including campaign developments with a number of national charities and consultancy work for FTSE 100 brands developing their cultural sponsorship programmes. Michelle also specialises in philanthropy, having recently developed a number of major philanthropy projects for charities and corporates, and having set up new philanthropic foundations for sports stars, artists and entrepreneurs.

In 2010 Michelle completed her studies as part of the MBA programme at Ashridge Business School and in early 2011 Michelle was awarded a prestigious social enterprise scholarship from Coutts to study at Cranfield School of Management on the renowned Business Growth and Development Programme. Further funding from Goldman Sachs in 2012 enabled study at University College London as part of the 10,000 small businesses programme and at Said Business School at Oxford University in 2013.