Michael Ventura is a creative executive, facilitator, and strategic leader whose work guides organizations through consequential periods of transformation. He is the author of Applied Empathy (Simon & Schuster, 2018) and the forthcoming Constellation Thinking (Authors Equity, 2027), which explore emotional intelligence, purpose, and systems thinking as lived disciplines rather than abstract ideals. 

As the founder and former CEO of Sub Rosa, an award-winning strategy and design firm, Michael advised organizations ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union, LVMH, and General Electric to the United Nations and the Obama-Biden Administration. He has served as visiting faculty at Princeton University, the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, the Esalen Institute, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, translating real-world brand and organizational challenges into methods that prepare leaders to succeed amidst complexity. 

Across his career, he has consistently operated at the intersection of culture, brand, and growth in support of stronger systems and deeper connections. His practice centers on aligning internal realities with execution so that decisions are grounded in empathy and commercial coherence. 

Michael brings a balance of intuitive judgement and operational rigor to moments when institutions must confront reality, take ownership, and move forward with clarity.