Christine Michaelis
Lisa is an authentic East Ender of Polish and Irish descent. Lisa cares deeply about the community and making Tower Hamlets safe and inclusive for everyone, having always lived and worked locally. She started her career as a market trader and from an early age was honing her entrepreneurial skills. Lisa went on to support at-risk young people with legal issues and appeals. As a community volunteer, Lisa has raised substantial funds for education and charitable organisations and has strategically supported many more.
Lisa is a fellow of The School of Social Entrepreneurs, graduating in 2013.
She was also recognised in 2021 by being a winner of the Social Innovation Prize. This is is awarded annually by Trinity Hall College Cambridge, and the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation based at University of Cambridge Judge Business School. It is given to a few chosen individuals for their achievement to date and for their ambitious plans for the future.
As the founder of Social Ark, Lisa helps grassroots social entrepreneurs, whom she describes as ‘hidden gems’, to use their lived experience to develop social businesses and to create a better life for themselves and the community around them.
Christine, Marketing and Creative Start-Up Coach, founder of the Creative Start-Up Academy, author of multiple books, public speaker, podcaster and workshop facilitator.
She has worked in marketing and advertising for more than 12 years before she decided to start her own business supporting start-ups.
With her hands-on approach, she has helped hundreds of individuals validate their business idea and create a successful start-up as well as working with small businesses supporting them getting clarity and marketing their business.
She sees entrepreneurship as a way of life and loves the passion that comes from working in that industry.