Author.
Speaker.
Changemaker.
The Golden Mean
Podcast.
Michael Golden’s invitation to change the world.
Michael Golden is a social changemaker and national award-winning journalist who champions big ideas and the people behind them.
A serial social entrepreneur, Michael has launched an array of enterprises geared toward educational transformation and community empowerment. He is a cofounder of One Million Degrees, Spark Chicago, Newsbound, Complete the Degree and The Fulcrum.
Michael is also the author of Unlock Congress: Reform the Rules – Restore the System. His book is taught in university curriculums across the country and Michael is a noted opinion leader on a wide variety of political and social issues. He serves as a Senior Fellow at the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy.
As president of Golden Mean Strategies, Michael fuses three decades of experience in politics, journalism and social enterprise to bring a fresh approach to problem-solving and creating opportunity. He still gets his biggest thrill out of helping fellow “fire-starters” to launch and grow their own passion projects.
Michael’s commentary and analysis are featured in
media from coast to coast.
FROM Articles
The politics of Jim Crow: How one senator’s insult offers a lesson in American history
05 / 12 / 2021
LATEST PODCAST
Paige Ponder, CEO, One Million Degrees
04 / 14 / 2020
What clients and colleagues are saying...
“Michael is driven by his sincere passion to make a difference. But it’s his talent for connecting with people that sets him apart. I have witnessed first-hand the amazing growth of One Million Degrees and its contribution to Chicago. The leadership roles Michael has played in his public service enterprises have helped to change thousands of lives.”
“For two decades, I’ve watched Michael build and grow successful organizations from scratch. He has a gift for messaging that sticks, but then he takes it to the next level by orchestrating media in order to connect with the target audience. In projects I’ve led both in both the public and private sectors, I’ve always been able to rely on Michael’s strategic counsel and savvy communication skills.”
“After reading Michael’s book, Unlock Congress, I reached out and asked for his help on the Political Reform Agenda we were creating at the Stevenson Center on Democracy. His knowledge base and eloquence as a writer and speaker motivated us to make him a Senior Fellow at the Center. It’s been an excellent partnership and, happily, one that continues to grow.”
“Michael successfully managed one of my toughest campaigns for the U.S. Congress, and I could not have done it without him. When you’re in the foxhole fighting it out every day for what you know is right, there’s nobody better to have at your side. And whether it was funders, voters, staff members or the media, Michael has the unique ability to connect with people in any kind of situation. That’s his magic.”
“Long before Michael joined our board, I could feel his deep connection to our mission at the Shriver Center. Without question, his speech coaching has made me a stronger and more effective public voice, and he’s always there for our team when we’re in need of savvy communications counsel.”
CHRISTIE HEFNER
Former CEO & Chairman
Playboy Enterprises
GERY CHICO
Principal, Chico & Nunes
Former President,
Chicago Public Schools
ADLAI STEVENSON III
Former US Senator and
Illinois Treasurer
MELISSA BEAN
Former US Representative
JOHN BOUMAN
President, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Sign up for THE GOLDEN MEAN newsletter
Get a fresh perspective on the events shaping our world and how we can all make it better. Sign up to receive Michael's opinion articles, podcast episodes, social media posts and more!!