Michelle Middleton is the Founder and Principal of Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG).  She has more than two decades of executive and senior leadership experience within growth-stage, global, and multi-entity organizations. She has worked with founder-led companies, venture-backed and private equity environments, as well as public sector institutions in industries including construction, renewable energy, healthcare, B2B SaaS, and marketplace platforms.

Her background spans legal leadership, organizational design, workforce risk strategy, and complex employee relations, including executive-level matters, workplace investigations, regulatory complaints, and labor relations across domestic and international operations. She has played a central role in mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, global integrations, and high-stakes organizational transitions.

Michelle has built internal functions from the ground up and designed structures that strengthen operational discipline, increase leadership visibility, and reduce organizational risk. 

Professional Certifications (HRCI):

• GPHR – Global Professional in Human Resources

• SPHR – Senior Professional in Human Resources

• PHR-CA – Professional in Human Resources, California

• PHR – Professional in Human Resources

Executive Certificates & Advanced Coursework:

• Employment Law Certificate, Cornell University

• Employee Relations & Investigations Certificate, Cornell University

• Human Resources Certificate, University of the Pacific

• Compensation Management, Loyola Marymount University

Degrees:

• Juris Doctor (JD)

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology