Seattle Reign FC Legend: Michele Smith – CEO of MoPOP

The Legends Campaign, a partnership between Seattle Reign FC and Starbucks, honors women for their extraordinary contributions to our community in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Prior to Seattle Reign FC’s 2024 home opener, the club recognized Michele Smith, CEO of The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle.

Appointed in March, Smith is known for her people-centered leadership style and drive to align vision and mission. She works tirelessly to center equity and inclusion in the community and is a mentor to many. Her impressive resume of experience includes work in business development, operations and finance in the nonprofit industry.

I would say that I am a positive disruptor and that I am always up to good trouble, and resilience is in my DNA.  I am passionate about arts culture travel, wellness and belonging. Above all I am here to be a friend and an ally,” said Smith

 Though she always knew that she wanted to be a CEO, she didn’t know exactly where. Her journey to MoPOP was a winding road lined with a combination of experiences, passions, mentors. Through all of this, she learned the importance of embracing challenges, staying true to her own values and surrounding herself with a support network of members, mentors and colleagues.

Most recently, she was the Chief Business & Financial Officer with the Award-winning cultural institution the Woodland Park Zoo, where she spearheaded the development of a safe reopening plan for the zoo after COVID-19. She also has experience with United Airlines, where she worked with flight attendants through crisis in the time of 9/11.

“Each of these experiences and accomplishments represents a testament to resilience, which is a big word in my life. I'm particularly proud of the efforts to advance diversity and inclusion within the cultural sector here and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and celebrated.”

A lifelong lover of the arts, Smith is working with the community to continue addressing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility within the arts community and to build a future where everyone has equal access to the transformative power of art and cultural experiences. Because of this, she feels that MoPOP is the place she is meant to be.

Each day as the CEO of MoPOP is a little bit different. In her position, she oversees museum operations, ensuring that their collective vision of celebrating pop culture and fostering inclusivity in upheld in every single thing that they do. Since the role is so multi-faceted, there is no one favorite part for Smith.

“I would describe each day as a whirlwind of creativity, strategy and connection. From collaborating with our incredibly talented team on upcoming exhibits to engaging with community partners, no two days look the same and I love it.”

In addition to her official duties as CEO of MoPOP, Smith is a fierce advocate for mentorship, as she had many great mentors in her life that helped shape who she is today.

“To all the young women out there forging their own path, I say embrace your uniqueness and advocate for yourself. Never let anyone dim your light. Seek out mentors who inspire and support you, and don't be afraid to challenge the status quo. Your voice matters. Your perspective is invaluable. Keep pushing those boundaries and paving the way for those who come after you. You belong here and your presence is a gift to us all.”

A true positive force in our community, Smith reflects the Reign’s values each and every day in her work, making her the perfect fit for the Legends program.

“Honestly, I get so emotional when I talk about this. Being recognized as a Seattle Reign FC Legend is truly humbling and deeply meaningful to me. It's a testament to the power of sports to unite communities and inspire change. As somebody who is passionate about promoting inclusivity and empowerment, this honor is a reminder of the importance of breaking barriers and celebrating the contributions of women in all fields. I am proud to represent the values and perseverance, teamwork and community that Seattle Reign FC embodies, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to inspire others through my journey.”

To conclude, Smith took a moment to recognize her employees, both past and present, who have all been a critical part of her journey.

“I'd always like to shout out my employees because I would not be where I'm at without the employees in the organizations that I've worked in. I'm truly in my favorite job of my career right now, and to be around the most passionate people around pop culture, diversity and inclusion honestly makes a lot of people jealous. I just want to shout out thankyou to my employee’s at MoPOP they’re the best and joining this iconic organization has allowed me to be my most authentic self, and I can’t do it without their unwavering support. Thank you MoPOP employees, I appreciate you!”