Director of Communications and Innovation, La Cocina; San Francisco, CA

Michelle Magat is director of communications and innovation at La Cocina, an award-winning nonprofit food business incubator in San Francisco. At the age of eight, Michelle took to her sister’s typewriter to churn out weekly ‘zines, which she’d sell to her parents’ friends for a nickel an issue. This penchant for writing eventually earned her a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in journalism. And her entrepreneurial spirit ultimately shaped a twenty-five-year career in communications and marketing. Michelle co-founded the communications firm Current Global, ran her own consulting business, co-founded a school communications software startup, and advised Fortune 500 companies while working at two of the world’s leading communications agencies — Weber Shandwick and Edelman before joining La Cocina. Community service has always been a personal passion for her, and she has invested hundreds of hours over the last decade volunteering for schools, cultural institutions, and nonprofits. (San Francisco, CA) @lacocinasf