Michelle Calcasola

About

Award-Winning Business Coach, Speaker & Author

Michelle has been a Certified Business Coach for the past 10 years, after first graduating from being a client herself. She spent many years in the advertising and marketing industry at several large agencies in Columbus, Ohio, before returning to her family's small-animal veterinary hospital as Practice Manager and Business Director. Over an 18-year tenure there, she grew the business significantly in both size and profitability.

Michelle is passionate about helping businesses reach their greatest potential while reducing the stress and frustration so many owners and managers feel. She has particular experience in the medical field, but knows every business faces similar challenges — and that leaders have daily opportunities to remove those stressors. A skilled presenter, she's the author of Wait...Am I a Salesperson? and enjoys sharing her knowledge in workshops both large and small.

Michelle was named Global Coach of the Year in 2022, North American Coach of the Year in 2019, and North Eastern Regional Coach of the Year — and is consistently ranked among the top 3 coaches in the world. She holds degrees in Animal Science and Environmental Science from The Ohio State University, and lives in Dublin, Ohio with her husband Alex, their two kids, a dog, and a cat.

Speaking

Keynotes & Workshops

Michelle brings practical, real-world strategies to audiences of every size — from sales confidence rooted in her book to business growth and leadership development.

Sales & Confidence

Featuring themes from Wait...Am I a Salesperson?

Overcoming the Fear of Selling
Building a Sales Mindset as a Business Owner
Turning Everyday Conversations Into Opportunities

Business Growth

Creating Exceptional Customer Service
Increase Productivity & Preserve Team Culture
Financial Mastery: Your Numbers Working for You
Keeping Score: Using and Implementing KPIs

Leadership

Emotional Intelligence: Boost Your EQ
Master the Art of Difficult Conversations
Situational Leadership: Adapt to Every Team
Leading Through the Generation Gap

Book Michelle to Speak

Coaching

Grow Your Business with ActionCOACH

1-on-1 & Group Business Coaching

As a Certified Business Coach with ActionCOACH Columbus, Michelle works with owners and managers who want to grow their business while reducing the daily stress and frustration that comes with running one. She's ranked among the top 3 coaches in the world and brings hands-on experience — including 18 years growing a medical-field business herself — to every client relationship.

Visit ActionCOACH Columbus

"Coaching with Michelle has been a HUGE help in reducing stress and helping us focus on what will have the biggest impact on the business. I highly recommend Action Coach to anyone looking to improve the financial or cultural health of their business! Even if your business is doing well, they will help take it to the next level." — Jen Menninger, Practice Manager, Evendale Blue Ash Pet Hospital

"I have had an awesome experience working with Michelle. She is very knowledgeable and holds you accountable. Michelle always knew which buttons to push with me to help me grow my business and continue to achieve high quality. You will not regret speaking with the people at Action Coach." — Jim Sanders, Owner, ClinOhio Research

"The Action Coach Columbus Team, have made such an imprint on the way I do business, and see relationships altogether. To say their services made a positive change in my life is an understatement." — Paul Endicott, Owner and Stylist, Muse Hair Studio

Read more testimonials on ActionCOACH →

The Book

Wait...Am I a Salesperson?

You say, "I'm not a salesperson," as if it's that simple. You're a healthcare provider. A contractor. A veterinarian. A hairstylist. A business owner. But regardless of your title, you're a salesperson too — just not the pushy, aggressive stereotype your mind jumps to when you hear the word. Every day, people come to you looking for clear guidance from someone they can trust. They rely on your expertise to help them make the decision that best fits their needs. That's sales.

In Wait...Am I a Salesperson?, business coach Michelle Calcasola challenges the outdated stereotypes that make selling feel uncomfortable and offers a refreshing approach built on trust, honesty, empathy, and service. Because selling done well isn't manipulation — it's having the confidence to share what you know because you genuinely care.

Overcome the fear and discomfort surrounding sales
Build trust without feeling pushy or inauthentic
Ask better questions that uncover real client needs
Handle objections with empathy instead of pressure

Buy on Amazon

Free Sales Confidence Toolkit

Something is quietly holding you back from selling with confidence — and it's not a lack of skill or effort. Take the free Hidden Barrier Assessment™ and get the companion workbook that goes with it, delivered straight to your inbox.

Hidden Barrier Assessment™ (online)
Companion Workbook (18 chapters)
Buyer Type Self-Assessment
Learning Style Self-Assessment