#LifeLessons - The Biggest Life Learnings Of Michelle Ponto

NAME: Michelle Ponto

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @travelingrunninggirl or @MichellePonto.founder

JOB TITLE: Founder & CEO of Blue Gecko Communications

Michelle is an Emmy-nominated journalist turned strategic communications advisor and founder of Blue Gecko Communications, a top-ranked sustainability communications consultancy in the GCC. Michelle works with leaders navigating some of the biggest industrial shifts happening right now from decarbonization, circular economy, to national transformation goals.

Her career has taken her everywhere. She started in journalism with The New York Times, CBS, ABC News, and Discovery Channel. Then Michelle moved into corporate communications across the GCC, Europe, and North America, working with companies like SABIC, Ma'aden, Nokia, KAUST, and Mitsubishi. She launched her own company at 50 while living across five countries in six years.

What drives Michelle is simple: the most powerful stories aren't buried in reports. They're happening inside the business - in the boardrooms, the labs, the factories. Michelle's job is to pull those stories out and make sure they land with clarity and credibility.

Michelle also runs workshops, deliver keynotes, and trains in-house teams on messaging, storytelling, and navigating communications in the age of AI.

Today Michelle shares with us her biggest life lessons to-date:

Life Lesson 1: Reinvention Is Your Superpower

Reinvention is one of the most powerful tools you have. It's not about abandoning who you were. Instead, it's about becoming more of who you're meant to be right now. And that takes real courage.

The courage to say, "I've grown. My priorities have shifted. What lit me up five years ago doesn't anymore and that's okay." The courage to honor where you are in this moment instead of clinging to who you used to be.

I started out as a copywriter and scriptwriter, writing TV pilots, movie scripts, commercials, back covers for books – anything with words. Then I took a chance and shifted to journalism and running the digital newsrooms for large TV networks and absolutely loved it. The adrenaline, the stories, the whole thing. But after 10 years of that, I was ready for something new, and I moved into corporate communications. Then I started my own company.

Growing up, we get this message drilled into us: pick a career and stay in it. But being consistent in your direction doesn't mean you have to stay frozen in one identity. You're allowed to evolve into who you are today, not who you were yesterday.

And you are allowed to make mistakes. In between the successful big jumps in my career, I also tested the waters in other areas. I owned a spa for two years (ylang ylang still triggers bad flashbacks). I was a personal trainer. I started a web design agency specializing in wedding websites.

None of those were right. But at least I tried. From the outside, people probably thought I was all over the place. But from the inside, I was just growing into each new version of myself. Each reinvention wasn't a rejection of the past. It was an expansion of who I was becoming.

Reinvention is brave work. It asks you to trust yourself enough to change. You might surprise people who only knew your old version, and that's okay. The right opportunities show up when you stop shrinking yourself to make others comfortable.

Life Lesson 2: Action Creates Confidence

Many of us do this thing where we tell ourselves, "When I feel confident enough, then I'll put myself out there." When I'm ready, I'll speak up. When I'm less terrified, I'll try that thing. But that mindset keeps us in the waiting room forever.

Here's the secret: confidence doesn't show up first. You do.

So much of what I'm known for now –the speaking gigs, my expertise in sustainability communications, writing, running long distances –I started doing all of that before I felt anywhere near ready. I showed up feeling nervous and having imposture syndrome. I walked into rooms where my voice literally shook. I said “yes” to projects hoping I could pull them off. And over time, it got easier.

Confidence didn't come from being naturally good at something. It came from doing it over and over.

We women are so good at waiting until we feel completely ready. But "ready" is usually just fear holding us back. You don't need another certification, another year of prep, or anyone's stamp of approval.

You just need to start moving.

Show up before you're ready. Speak before your voice is steady. Lead while the doubt is still sitting on your shoulder. Confidence will catch up with you, but only if you get walking first.

Life Lesson 3: You Are Never Too Old to Follow Your Dreams

Life does not have an expiration date on dreams. I moved from Canada to the US at 34 to change careers. I wrote my first book at 38. My second at 45. I moved to Saudi Arabia at 44. Then Switzerland at 46. Belgium at 49. I launched my company at 50 and moved to Dubai at 55.

In my personal life, I was also following my dreams. Believe me when I tell you, people thought I was crazy competing in my first fitness competition at 42 and then running my first marathon at 46.

I didn’t have the support of a husband or backup income to follow these dreams. I sought out jobs in different countries. I researched how to do things. But most importantly, I stepped outside my comfort zone.

This is the secret to following your dreams. Because dreams don’t fall in your lap. They are something you strive for – and just because you got married, bought a house, had kids, or went through a divorce doesn't mean you stop striving. Your path is always changeable. Houses can be sold. New opportunities can be taken. Knowledge can be acquired. Sometimes you may have to sacrifice your weekends to get it done or it takes longer than expected, but it’s worth it for the dream.

So, if you're sitting there thinking you've already missed your shot, I’m proof that there is absolutely no deadline on becoming who you're meant to be.

Sometimes the most incredible chapters happen right when everyone else assumes the book is closed.