Director / Chair, Programming Committee

Michelle Taulman

michelle.taulman@womenandhitech.org

"Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today." — James Dean

Michelle Taulman is an accomplished executive leader with more than 25 years of experience guiding business strategy, managing complex stakeholder relationships, overseeing multimillion-dollar financial responsibilities, and leading organizational transformation across the aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and supply chain sectors.

As Vice President of Strategic Campaigns for Rolls-Royce, Michelle leads strategic growth initiatives and customer engagements involving opportunities exceeding $2 billion. Her career has encompassed executive leadership in business development, commercial management, contract negotiations, risk management, supply chain operations, and strategic planning. She has extensive experience evaluating business opportunities, mitigating financial and operational risks, developing long-term strategies, and building consensus among diverse stakeholders.

Michelle brings a strong governance mindset to board service through her experience establishing policies and processes, ensuring regulatory and contractual compliance, managing organizational risk, overseeing budgets and financial performance, and driving accountability for results. She is recognized for her ability to balance strategic vision with practical execution while fostering collaboration and ethical decision-making.

In addition to her corporate leadership experience, Michelle has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to community and professional service. She has served as President, Director, and Educational Coordinator for the Institute for Supply Management, Director for the National Association of Women Business Owners, mentor for emerging professionals, guest speaker at universities, and volunteer leader for numerous community organizations.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing with a minor in Economics from Indiana University, along with Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) and Contract & Commercial Management Advanced Practitioner (CCMAP) certifications.

Michelle lives in Avon, Indiana, with her significant other, Joey, and is the proud mother of Travis and Mariah, whom she adopted from Guatemala. Their family also includes two energetic Bengal cats, Romeo and Sasha.

Outside of her professional career, Michelle enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally, exploring new cultures, and seeking unique adventures. Her experiences have included scuba diving with sharks, skydiving in Rio de Janeiro, riding in two-seat Indy cars at multiple racetracks, and descending almost 1k feet underwater in a submersible. She is passionate about lifelong learning, building meaningful relationships, and helping others succeed. Whether mentoring professionals, volunteering in the community, or exploring the world, Michelle approaches life with curiosity, gratitude, and enthusiasm.

When she joined Women & Hi Tech she realized that career success isn’t just about having mentors and advocates—it’s also about having a community of women who understand her

experiences. After spending much of her career in male-dominated industries, she saw how powerful it is to connect with women who can share perspectives, offer support, and help each other grow both professionally and personally.

During her time on the Board of Directors, Michelle aims to strengthen Women & Hi Tech’s impact by increasing mentorship, leadership development, and networking opportunities that help women thrive at every career stage.

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn to learn more about her professional journey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelletaulman