Michael Arena
Senior Faculty Member
Michael Arena, Ph.D., is an entrepreneurial social scientist who deeply appreciates the creative disciplines practiced by artists. He believes that executives, entrepreneurs and innovators have much to learn about the creative disciplines of visual art. Michael also serves as an Assistant Professor in the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte. His interest in the area of innovation and connectivity has led to the development of a program called ‘Hyper-connected Innovation.” This program is dedicated to establishing new methods of generating value by creating an environment of open idea generation, experimentation and innovation.
Most recently, he served as a Visiting Scientist within Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab in partnership with Bank of America, in which he was dedicated to driving out innovations and new business models through such concepts as connected economies, behavior networks and collaborative communities. Michael has also devoted considerable time researching and understanding the behavioral aspects and social dynamics of innovation in today’s connected society.
In addition to his academic experience, Michael has served as the Leadership Develop Executive for Bank of America’s Global Consumer and Small Business Banking organization. He also led the Global Consulting organization for Ingersoll-Rand Corporation, where he was responsible for driving the enterprise operational excellence initiative. He has extensive practical experience in the areas of innovation and organizational change, working with such companies as Pfizer, General Motors, Lockheed Martin, Bayer Corporation, BF Goodrich, Ingersoll-Rand and BP. Arena holds a Doctorate in Organizational Development, with a concentration in Whole System Dynamics from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati. Additionally, Michael is a 2007 graduate of the Innovation Institute.
Anna Sison
For nearly 20 years Anna has been consulting and coaching clients ranging from CEO’s to front line staff. Her work spans multiple industries including: non-profit, financial, manufacturing, higher and primary education and healthcare arenas. She’s worked with international and domestic based executives in the areas of on-boarding, high potential leader development, diversity, change management and leadership. Anna is adept in coaching clients through the diverse, complex matrix and virtual management environments that many leaders face. In addition, she has extensive experience working with senior leaders in developing and implementing Human Capital and Talent Management strategies.
Anna brings the unique combination of strong business acumen with the understanding of how people manage through change. She is effective at both supporting personal growth and developing systems to reinforce and create accountability for results. Her insightful and compassionate approach creates a trusting environment for her clients to grow while keeping their desired results on the forefront of the work.
Anna is a graduate of the Innovation Institute and completed both her Masters work in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina, at Charlotte. She's spoken at various events related to Diversity, including serving as a panel expert at the 2009 NC Women’s Conference. Anna holds numerous coaching certifications including Cross Cultural coaching and is certified as a Diversity Practitioner through Elsie Y Cross and Associates. She resides in Charlotte, NC with her son, Matthew.