Michal Smith

"Creative individuals think in a way that challenges convention and works in the interstitial spaces that others are not sufficiently driven to explore. Once a solution is found they are also fearless enough to bring it to the light.”

Michal Smith is the Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons (C2C), an organization that engages thousands of family, corporate and community volunteers in collecting, sorting and packing gently-used clothing, school supplies, shoes, books, toys and baby supplies for children aged 0-12, living in low-income or homeless situations.

Prior to C2C, Smith was the director of development for Project Forward Leap, which  provided academic support to increase the opportunities for promising students experiencing serious socio-economic barriers. She also co-founded Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints, which became one of the nation's leading large-format digital fine art printing studios, served as executive director of The Print Center, where she advanced the Art in Schools program, introducing inner-city children to art in all its forms. She was an adjunct lecturer at the University of the Art. Michal, a native of the UK, graduated from London University, and also holds a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Bryn Mawr College. She served on the board of the Painted Bride, and Child's Work USA and SmartCEO Magazine recognized her with its Brava Award for top female CEO's.

How does innovation influence your work?

“I believe that as leaders we are continually faced with a series of impossible situations disguised as extraordinary opportunities. Without being open to cultivating creativity and innovation in the workplace, and in our teams, we would never get to the opportunity, merely be confounded by the often unsurmountable seeming obstacles. 

How do you define creativity? It builds from my previous answer. I cannot necessarily separate it from a person. Creative individuals are those that supply solutions where there appear to be none. They have a freedom in thinking which challenges convention and works in the interstitial spaces that others are not sufficiently driven to explore. Once a solution is found they are also fearless enough to bring it to the light.”

Biography:

Michal Smith is the Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons (C2C), an organization providing children living in poverty with the essentials they need to thrive, at home, at school and at play. C2C engages thousands of family, corporate and community volunteers in collecting, sorting and packing clothing, school supplies, shoes, books, toys and baby supplies for children aged 0-12, living in low-income or homeless situations.
Prior to C2C, Smith was the director of development from Project Forward Leap, which closed the academic achievement gap and provided opportunities for promising students experiencing serious socio-economic barriers. She co-founded Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints, which became one of the nation's leading large-format digital fine art printing studios. She served as executive director of The Print Center, where she advanced the Art in Schools program, introducing inner-city children to art in all its forms.
Smith, a native of the UK, graduated from London University, she holds a certificate In Nonprofit Executive Leadership from Bryn Mawr College. She was an adjunct lecturer at the University of the Arts. She served on the board of the Painted Bride, and Child's Work USA and SmartCEO Magazine recognized her with its Brava Award for top female CEO's.