Michelle Suttle

Wildcard
DISC Type : cis

Principal at Independent

Ashburn, Virginia, United States

Overview

Michelle Suttle is an executive operator specializing in guiding complex, regulated organizations through periods of change and growth. With a background from the United States Air Force Academy, her career spans leadership roles in aerospace, defense, and government services at firms like QinetiQ and BAE Systems, focusing on operations, risk, and turning strategy into execution.

Michelles personal reflections reveal a deep interest in the concepts of risk, reliance, and resilience, drawing parallels from major events to everyday leadership. She appreciates the determination and toughness displayed in high-pressure situations, such as motorsports, and uses these observations to inform her professional philosophy on overcoming challenges.

Unique fact: Michelle directed finance and operations for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museums historic seven-year, $1B renovation.

Personality Overview

Requires Proof

Friendly But Slow

Curious But Skeptical

They typically tend to be late adopters even when they seem friendly and excited about what you have to sell  They are unlikely to ever become strong champions even when the conversations are going well; you should focus on cultivating other champions They are often friendly and nice, but can sometimes suprise you with their piercing questions

Topics They Care About

Enterprise Risk
As a former Chief Risk Officer for a FTSE 250 company, she has deep expertise in risk governance, assurance, and business continuity.
Operational Resilience
Her work focuses on strengthening operating models and improving delivery performance, and she frequently writes about the importance of resilience.
Aerospace & Defense
Her career is rooted in this sector, with extensive leadership experience at BAE Systems and QinetiQ, complemented by her Air Force background.

Media Appearances

Michelle has no verified media appearances

Work History

1-2026
Principal at Independent
1-2023 - 6-2025
Chief Risk Officer at QinetiQ
2-2019 - 1-2023
Director of Business Operations at BAE Systems
5-2016 - 2-2019
Associate Director at Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum
3-2003 - 8-2015
Vice President & Director Roles at BAE Systems, Inc.

Education

Bachelor of Science from United States Air Force Academy
MS from Marymount University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 21 Location : Ashburn, Virginia, United States Job Level : Senior Designation : Principal at Independent
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Insights For Selling To Michelle

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Help them realize that there is no personal risk in making this decision
  • Ask them questions to understand their needs better while staying affable
  • Share testimonials from known people and give multiple examples of product value

DONT's

  • Do not sound overly eager, modulate your energy levels especially if you are generally enthusiastic
  • Don't ask them to move fast, let them take their time and digest all the information
  • Avoid phrases like ‘trust me’, ‘you will just love it’ etc.

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Michelle is

  • Clear proof of product value matters to them, followed by others' testimonials and rapport.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Michelle

  • They are likely to give you a clear answer without taking you around in circles. However, if you share a good relationship, they might not be so forthcoming.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Michelle move?

  • They like to perform full analysis and can take time to make any decision.
  • Can Michelle take some risk or not?

  • They weigh all decisions systematically and are unlikely to take many risks.

You And Michelle

Personality Compatibility


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