Michelle Riklan: How Better Listening, Honest Language and the Right Fit Shape Stronger Leaders

ABOUT MICHELLEMichelle Riklan is a career strategist, consulting and search executive with Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace. Her work is rooted in communication, leadership development, executive search and helping individuals and organizations make thoughtful, high-impact career and hiring decisions.With graduate work in speech and interpersonal communication from NYU, Michelle brings a deep understanding of how language shapes leadership, trust and connection. Her career has included human resources, employee relations, training and development, executive coaching, personal career marketing and strategic search.At Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace, Michelle works closely with private clubs, boards and candidates, with a particular focus on financial leadership searches. She helps clubs look beyond credentials to evaluate communication style, cultural fit, emotional intelligence and readiness for leadership.Known for her honesty and direct guidance, Michelle believes the right advice at the right moment can change the course of a career. Her approach is relational rather than transactional, grounded in transparency, listening and helping people find the path that aligns with their goals, strengths and stage of life.EPISODE HIGHLIGHTStep into a thoughtful conversation with Michelle Riklan, career strategist, consulting and search executive with Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace. With a career shaped by communication, human resources, executive coaching and strategic search, Michelle shares how language, listening and transparency influence leadership at every level.In this episode, Michelle reflects on how her background in speech and interpersonal communication shaped the way she works with candidates, boards and club leaders. She discusses why listening deeply is essential, how leaders can become more aware of their own listening blocks and why the most important work often happens in the gap between what people say and what they actually mean.Michelle also shares her perspective on executive search in the private club industry, especially when clubs are hiring senior financial leaders. She explains why clubs must be prepared to support the kind of executive they say they want and why readiness, culture and governance matter when bringing in ahigh-level leader.She also explores the value of reinvention, drawing on her own career path through HR consulting, executive search, training, outplacement, resume development and personal career marketing before joining Kopplin Kuebler & Wallace.Throughout the conversation, Michelle reinforces that leadership is shaped through communication, self-awareness, impact and the ability to help others move forward with clarity and purpose.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS CONVERSATIONIn this thoughtful discussion, Michelle shares insights shaped bycommunication, search, coaching and career development. You’ll hear:Why language is one of the most important tools a leader usesHow listening blocks can prevent leaders from truly hearing what others are sayingWhy communication is central to trust, confidence and leadership presenceHow honesty and transparency help prepare people for the next step in their careersHow emotional intelligence helps separate a good hire from a transformative oneHow clubs can misunderstand what they are truly ready for when hiring executive-level talentWhy reinvention is not failure, but leadership applied to your own lifeWhy joy and fulfillment often live in the feedback loop of meaningful impactWhy leaders should pay close attention to the everyday language they use with their teamsThroughout the conversation, Michelle reinforces that leadership is built through listening, clarity and care. Her perspective serves as a reminder that words matter, fit matters and the smallest moments of awareness can create meaningful change in a person’s career, a club’s culture and the memberexperience.