Some leaders build companies. Others build communities. Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood builds legacies—one that transcends titles, balances boardrooms with mentorship, and leaves a lasting imprint on every life she touches. As a business executive, resilience coach, and now an emerging author, Dr. Rice-Kirkwood is a woman whose leadership begins with purpose and ends with transformation.
Her journey began not in a corner office, but in a family-owned McDonald’s franchise, where she learned the intricate dance between people, service, and success. By 2012, she was named CEO of Rice Enterprises LLC, overseeing up to 16 restaurants and nearly 1,000 employees. But Dr. Rice-Kirkwood’s definition of success was never rooted in profit margins—it was grounded in people.
“I was always writing, even when I wasn’t publishing,” she reflects. “In every scholarship letter, employee recognition note, or reflection after a long day, there was a story to be told. Eventually, I realized those stories deserved to be shared on a broader stage.”
Her passion for storytelling blossomed as her leadership deepened. Writing became a way to distill lessons from decades of entrepreneurial grit, family loss, mentorship, and mission-driven business. “After we lost my father unexpectedly, I led through grief,” she shares. “Writing helped me process the weight of leadership and the responsibility of legacy. It became a sacred practice.”
Transitioning from behind-the-scenes reflections to public authorship, Dr. Rice-Kirkwood began crafting essays and leadership content, laying the foundation for her forthcoming book centered on resilient leadership in family-run businesses. Her writing weaves together strategy, empathy, and lived experience—illuminating the real cost of leadership and the healing power of purpose.
Yet like any leader-turned-author, she’s faced her share of challenges. “The hardest part wasn’t writing,” she says. “It was creating the space to write while carrying the demands of running a business and being present for my family.” Through discipline and grace, she found a rhythm—journaling in the mornings, capturing thoughts during coaching sessions, and treating her writing like any critical meeting on the calendar.
Her greatest mentors, she notes, were her parents and the employees who trusted her with their growth. “Their stories shaped me. Their resilience taught me. That’s the heart of my writing—every voice that has helped me lead more fully.”
For her readers, especially women navigating entrepreneurship, motherhood, or reinvention, Dr. Rice-Kirkwood’s words resonate deeply. After a recent keynote, a young woman approached her with tears in her eyes: “You said exactly what I needed. I thought I had to choose between building a business and raising a family. You showed me I can do both—with integrity.” That moment, she says, was more meaningful than any award.
Diversity is not an afterthought in her writing—it’s embedded in her narrative. “When Black women write about leadership, we widen the lens,” she says. “We add nuance, truth, and beauty to the story of success. Representation in literature helps others see themselves as worthy of being seen, heard, and celebrated.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Rice-Kirkwood plans to expand her coaching and consulting firm, Resilient By Design, and publish her book alongside a workbook for women leaders. Her vision is clear: to empower others to lead with clarity, courage, and sustainability.
To aspiring writers, she offers timeless wisdom: “Don’t wait to be polished to be powerful. Start writing where you are, with what you have. Your truth will refine you.”
In everything she builds—whether it’s a thriving business, a community initiative, or a sentence filled with hope—Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood writes with legacy in mind. And in doing so, she gives the next generation a blueprint for purpose-driven leadership that lasts.
About Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood
Dr. Michele Rice-Kirkwood is a purpose-driven business leader, resilience coach, and the former CEO of Rice Enterprises LLC—once the largest minority-owned business in Western Pennsylvania. With over 30 years of experience, she’s led multi-unit franchise operations, mentored hundreds, and pioneered workforce programs for youth and underserved communities. In 2024, she launched Resilient By Design, a firm supporting entrepreneurs, franchisees, and legacy leaders through personal and professional transitions. A founding board member of THAW and community advocate, Dr. Rice-Kirkwood continues to champion mental wellness, equity, and empowerment. Her writing, shaped by lived leadership and heart-centered service, reflects her lifelong mission: to uplift, equip, and transform.
