Leadership Grounded in Service, Resilience, and Continuous Growth

‍Michelle Jensen Session, strategic HR executive and Founder of Aquarius, has built a career defined by learning, adaptability, and deep commitment to people. Raised in a hotelier family and part of the Best Western community for more than 35 years, she grew up immersed in hospitality and service. Her path took her into environmental science, nonprofits, and higher education, work that included coordinating global conferences with Nobel Prize–winning scientists, before returning to the family business as COO. Navigating COVID-19 became one of her most defining leadership moments. Facing record-low occupancies and unprecedented uncertainty, she led with empathy and discipline, securing PPP funding, preserving jobs, and creating support programs to care for employees during crisis.

Launching Aquarius demanded courage, reinvention, and a willingness to embrace risk. Michelle credits her entrepreneurial leap to mentors who encouraged her to move forward despite economic uncertainty, reminding her that “there’s never a perfect time.” Building her own company forced her to learn sales, develop external networks, and draw heavily on research, expert input, and soft skills. She values mentors who “held up a mirror” and helped her recognize strengths she once overlooked. Today, she leads with intentionality, prioritizing presence, authentic connection, and continuous growth as foundations for success.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• “You always find the gold in a situation, but what if that gold is covered in a ton of mud?”
• “If not now, when?”
• “The wheel exists. Can I make the wheel better?”
• “Mentors hold up a mirror so you can see what you cannot see yourself.”
• “Be present - be in the moment for the moment.”

Closing Reflection

‍Michelle’s story shows how resilience, curiosity, and purposeful relationships fuel long-term growth. Her journey inspires leaders to trust their instincts, seek community, and courageously pursue opportunities that stretch their potential.

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