From 2017 to 2019, Michael led a project on behalf of the World Resources Institute to develop guidance for apparel and footwear companies to set science-based climate change targets. With the guidance published in June 2019, the work has shifted to a cross-value chain effort in collaboration with the Apparel Impact Institute to identify how the sector will drive greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. Michael is currently advising the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Textile Exchange on their climate change efforts and is working with a number of apparel and footwear companies on topics including science-based targets and circular economy. Prior to this, Michael led strategy and managed external partnerships for Nike’s Sustainable Business & Innovation team, and led the company’s efforts on the circular economy. Before Nike, Michael was a Vice President at SustainAbility, Inc. where he advised companies including BMW, Brown-Forman, Gap, Goldman Sachs, HP, Nike, and Walmart on strategy, communications, stakeholder engagement, and trends. He played a key role in developing multi-stakeholder collaborations including the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Group and the Closed Loop Fund. He was also a frequent public speaker and author on various topics including the business case for sustainability and ratings.
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Michael serves as a Board member of DendriFund (Brown-Forman’s environmental foundation), as well as the Circulate Initiative (a non-profit working to address ocean plastic). He holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University and an MBA with high distinction and an MS (Environmental Policy) from the University of Michigan.