Michealene Risley

Last updated
Michealene Cristini Risley
A photo of Michealene Risley.png
NationalityAmerican
EducationBachelor's Degree in Telecommunications and minors in English and Advertising
Alma mater Bishop Foley High School Michigan State University
OccupationAuthor Activist

Michealene Cristini Risley is a best selling Author, writer, director and human rights activist. [1] She ran for the Americans Elect nomination for President of the United States in 2012. [2] She is currently CEO and Co-Founder of Imbibe Lifestyles, a series of high quality pillows in the consumer products wellness space.

Contents

Background

Risley was born and raised in Clawson, Michigan, before spending her teenage years in Troy, Michigan. She graduated from Bishop Foley High School and went on to graduate from Michigan State University with a degree in Telecommunications and minors in English and Advertising. [3] She spent a number of years in Hollywood for such companies as Disney, Amblin and Mattel. While Vice President of Production for Marvel's animation unit she was recruited by SEGA of America to build a consumer products and entertainment division. At that time, SEGA was at less than 4% market share. The Consumer Products division was an incredible team that turned Sonic the Hedgehog until a billion dollar consumer products brand. She also pitched the executive team on the lost opportunity of creating games for girls, built the SEGA TASK force to address these issues. female market share at that time was 3% in 1993, when Risley departed in 1995 it had grown to 20%. The team also worked with two top animation facilities and created two Sonic animated series simultaneously. Both shows, the Network series and the syndication series were #1 hits. Creating two simultaneous hit shows on the same character at the same time, has not been done since. Michealene left SEGA to start her own for profit and not for profit company. She has continued to work with top athletes and sports companies after SEGA SPORTS and was hired by Nike to entertain building a gaming division for Nike or licensing out their roster of athletes to the video game sector. She recommended to Nike that they stick to their core business and license out those characters. Within her new company, Fresh Water Spigot, she took Nike's athletes out to the technology sector for licensing. This included Ronaldo, Brazil Soccer and Tiger Woods. The Tiger Woods/ Electronic Arts deal was the largest deal in the history of the video game sector at that time. [4] As a serial entrepreneur the company that changed the direction of the industry was Adidas Maternity. This was the first branded maternity line ever in the marketplace.

Career

Risley's non profit was established as Freshwater Haven. The focus of that non profit was to use medial to create social change. Within this non profit, Risley is noted for her work as the writer, producer and director for the film Tapestries of Hope , which follows social activist Betty Makoni in her efforts to help sexually abused young women in Zimbabwe through her foundation the Girl Child Network. [5] Risley was imprisoned and then deported to South Africa by the Zimbabwean government for the footage she shot during her time with Makoni and the Girl Child Network. [6] [7] After being safely returned to the United States, Risley became a large part of the push for the passing of the International Violence Against Women Act by creating grassroots efforts with over 45 other human rights groups. [8] The film premiered in September 2010 in over 105 theaters nationwide. [9]

In 2000, Risley was appointed as the VP of Production, Development and Consumer products for Marvel Comics. [10] In 2003, she founded Fresh Water Haven, a 501(c)(3) organization that writes, produces, develops and brings to market films, documentaries and books with the goal of raising awareness about global issues that are in need of reform. [11] [12] A frequent Huffington Post editorial writer, Risley is a noted Human Rights Speaker. [13] In 2003, Risley wrote, directed and produced Flashcards, a short film on child sexual abuse which won numerous awards and aired on PBS nationwide. [14] Risley co-authored the best-selling book This Is Not the Life I Ordered , alongside Deborah Collins Stephens, Jan Yanehiro, and Jackie Speier, which has sold over 50,000 copies (the book details the friendship of these four women and the ups and downs they faced in their lives). [15] After Running Marvels animation unit Michealene was recruited by Sega of America to build a licensing and Entertainment division from scratch. As Senior Director of Entertainment/Consumer Products at SEGA of America, she recruited and built a small group in Beverly Hills, California and eventually moved the whole team up to Sega headquarters in Northern California---where she became fascinated with the tech world and has never left Silicon Valley. In 2006, Risley founded Fresh Water Spigot, a licensing and creative services agency specializing in consumer products categories; she also conceived, developed, and launched the first Adidas-branded maternity product line, The Power of Two, LLC. [16] Michealene was also Vice President of Games at Zynga, a San Francisco-based mobile games company. [17] She has been a CEO of a number of tech start-ups in entertainment sector. In 2019 a revised version of "This is not the life I ordered: was released. Michealene is currently creating a new television series and involved with consulting. She spent most of 2020 working on delivery of PPE product in the United States to alleviate the spread of COVID-19.

Activism

As a passionate activist on issues of rape, abuse and human trafficking. Miss Risley has been thrown in prison in Zimbabwe, received death attempts and in 2019 while writing a version of the Larry Nassar story for television and hosting a Human trafficking event through Operation Big Sister, her LYFT vehicle was hijacked by one of the 346 gangs that do human trafficking. She had to flee the area and recover from PTSD. She is no longer working at the grass roots level on these issues.

Community organizing and special events

A community organizer for years including Delegation 2010, the 60 plus non-profit groups she organized to push Congress to resign and fund IVAWA and three presidential campaigns including her own. Special events include: Gentry Magazine fundraiser for 3 years that benefited her non profit, DUCKTALES in NY, Mattel Toy Fair and more.

Awards

Related Research Articles

<i>No Logo</i> 1999 nonfiction book by Naomi Klein

No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies is a book by the Canadian author Naomi Klein. First published by Knopf Canada and Picador in December 1999, shortly after the 1999 Seattle WTO protests had generated media attention around such issues, it became one of the most influential books about the alter-globalization movement and an international bestseller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Gainsbourg</span> British-French actress and singer (born 1971)

Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg is a British-French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress and singer Jane Birkin and French singer Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song "Lemon Incest" at the age of 12, she released an album with her father at the age of 15. More than 20 years passed before Gainsbourg released albums as an adult to commercial and critical success. She has acted in many films, including collaborations with Lars von Trier, and received two César Awards and Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress Award 2009 for the movie Antichrist, among many nominations.

<i>Sonic the Hedgehog</i> (TV series) 1993-1994 animated television series

Sonic the Hedgehog is an animated television series that aired from 1993 to 1994 based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise. It was produced by DIC Productions, Sega of America, and the Italian studio Reteitalia in association with Telecinco, and is the second of DIC's Sonic cartoons, following Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. To distinguish it from other Sonic media, fans commonly refer to the series as "Sonic SatAM", in reference to its Saturday morning timeslot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Jung</span> Canadian businesswoman (born 1958)

Andrea Jung is a Canadian-American executive, non-profit leader, and prominent women's-issues supporter based in New York City. In April 2014, she became president and CEO of Grameen America, a nonprofit microfinance organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus. From 1999 until 2012, she served as the first female CEO and chairman of Avon Products, Inc., a multi-level marketing company. Jung was also the first woman to serve as Chairman of the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association, and Chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations.

Spanx, Inc. is an American underwear maker focusing on shaping briefs and leggings, founded in Atlanta, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jakks Pacific</span> American toy company

Jakks Pacific, Inc. is an American toy manufacturer founded in January 1995. The company is best known for producing licensed action figures, playsets, dolls, plush toys and dress-up sets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackie Speier</span> American politician (born 1950)

Karen Lorraine Jacqueline Speier is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for California's 14th congressional district, serving in Congress from 2008 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Speier represented much of the territory that her political mentor, Leo Ryan, represented.

Celebrity branding or celebrity endorsement is a form of advertising campaign or marketing strategy which uses a celebrity's fame or social status to promote a product, brand or service, or to raise awareness about an issue. Marketers use celebrity endorsers in hopes that the positive image of the celebrity endorser will be passed on to the product's or brand's image. Non-profit organizations also use celebrities since a celebrity's frequent mass media coverage reaches a wider audience, thus making celebrities an effective ingredient in fundraising.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Product Red</span> Brand that engages firms to eliminate HIV/AIDS in Africa

Product Red is a licensed brand by the company Red that seeks to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds to help eliminate HIV/AIDS in eight African countries, namely Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. It is licensed to partner companies including Apple Inc., Nike, American Express (UK), The Coca-Cola Company, Starbucks, Converse, Electronic Arts, Primark, Head, Buckaroo, Penguin Classics, Gap, Armani, FIAT, Hallmark (US), SAP, Beats Electronics, and Supercell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brand ambassador</span> Person employed by an organization or company to represent a brand in a positive light

A brand ambassador is a person paid by an organization or company to represent its brand in a positive light, helping to increase brand awareness and sales. The brand ambassador is meant to embody the corporate identity in appearance, demeanor, values and ethics. The key element of brand ambassadors is their ability to use promotional strategies that will strengthen the customer-product-service relationship, influence a large audience to buy and consume more.

<i>This Is Not the Life I Ordered</i>

This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down is a collaborative non-fiction inspirational self-help book written by Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, Jackie Speier, and Jan Yanehiro. The book was first published in a hardcover format in 2007, by Conari Press. The first printing of the work was for thirty-five thousand copies, and a second printing is planned.

Tapestries of Hope is a feature-length documentary that exposes the virgin cleansing myth that if a man rapes a virgin he will be cured of HIV/AIDS. The film focuses on the work human rights activist Betty Makoni has done to protect and re-empower girls who have been victimized through sexual abuse. Tapestries of Hope aims to bring awareness to the widespread abuse of women and girls as well as the efforts of the Girl Child Network and its founder, Betty Makoni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Makoni</span> Zimbabwean womens rights activist

HazviperiBetty Makoni is a Zimbabwean women's rights activist who in 1999 founded the Girl Child Network, a charity which supports Zimbabwe's young sex abuse victims. The organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls and provided mentoring to at least 60,000 girls around Zimbabwe. She earned two degrees from the University of Zimbabwe, and has been awarded numerous national and international awards. Orphaned as a child and sexually abused, Makoni is the principal subject in the documentary film, Tapestries of Hope.

Ulala is a fictional character, mascot, and the main protagonist of Sega's Space Channel 5 series. Her character was created by Takashi Yuda, Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Jake Kazdel in the late 1990s and debuted in December 1999 with the release of Space Channel 5.

John Carter Risley is a Canadian billionaire businessman with interests in fisheries, food supplements, and communications. He is the co-founder of Clearwater Seafoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Film and Television International</span> Global networking organization

Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) is a global network of non-profit membership chapters. Established in 1997, it is dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women working in all areas of film, video, and other screen-based media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mindy Grossman</span> American businesswoman

Mindy Grossman is the former CEO of WW International. Her earlier career included executive roles at Ralph Lauren Corporation and Nike, and she was also CEO of HSN from 2006 - 2017. She has been listed on Financial Times's list of the Top 50 Women In World Business, and was ranked among Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women In The World, as well as in Fortune's Top People in Business.

<i>Disneys Aladdin</i> (Sega Genesis video game) 1993 video game

Disney's Aladdin is a platform game based on the 1992 film of the same name developed by Virgin Games. The game was released by Sega for the Sega Genesis on October 19, 1993 as one of several games based on the film, including another game that was released in the same month by Capcom for the Super NES.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Ballard</span> American astronomer

Sarah Ballard is an American astronomer who is a professor at the University of Florida. She has been a Torres Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a L'Oreal Fellow, and a NASA Carl Sagan Fellow.

Zoe Dirse is a Canadian cinematographer, film director, writer and professor. She is best known for her cinematography work for Studio D under the National Film Board of Canada, the first government-funded film studio in the world dedicated to women filmmakers.

References

  1. ↑ "Michealene Cristini Risley". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  2. ↑ Michealene Risley Activist DECLARED CANDIDATE (2012-05-18). "Americans Elect 2012 | Michealene Risley". Americanselect.org. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  3. ↑ "Michealene Cristini Risley - Pipl Directory". Pipl.com. 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  4. ↑ "Women's International Film & Television Showcase". Thewifts.com. 2011-12-03. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  5. ↑ "Child rape survivor saves 'virgin myth' victims". CNN. 2009-06-04. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  6. ↑ "Insiders - Michealene Risley". MakingOf. Archived from the original on October 9, 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ↑ "allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: Arrested Americans Deported Without Access to Lawyers (Page 1 of 1)". Archived from the original on 2008-06-06.
  8. ↑ "Zimbabwe Deports Two US Women Making Documentary On Rape". Voanews.com. 2009-11-01. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  9. ↑ "Screenvision - TapestriesOfHope". www.screenvision.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Tapestries of Hope Team". Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Freshwater Haven Inc". causes.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  12. ↑ "Shop here for Freshwater Haven - Kepler's will donate 6% back! | Kepler's Books". Keplers.com. 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  13. ↑ "Michealene Risley". Tedxcmu. 2010-02-06. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  14. ↑ "Stanford's Entrepreneurship Corner: Michealene C. Risley, Fresh Water Spigot". Ecorner.stanford.edu. 2008-08-01. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  15. ↑ Stephens, Deborah Collins; Speier, Jackie; Risley, Michealene C.; Yanehiro, Jan (October 2006). This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down (9781573243056): Deborah Collins Stephens, Michealene Cristini Risley, Jackie Speier, Jan Yanehiro: Books . Conari Press. ISBN   1573243051.
  16. ↑ "Michealene Risley". Indiegogo. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  17. ↑ "Zynga loses another $57 million in Q3". GamesIndustry.biz. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  18. ↑ "Events | Kepler's Books". Keplers.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-22. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  19. ↑ "Awards 2010 - MONACO CHARITY FILM FESTIVAL". Monacofilmfestival.de. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  20. ↑ "Tapestries of Hope - Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)". Libweb.lib.buffalo.edu. 2011-02-05. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  21. ↑ "Tapestries of Hope DVD". Videoproject.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  22. ↑ Honolulu Film Festival. "Aloha Accolade Award Winners". Honolulufilmawards.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  23. ↑ Andre Soares (2009-10-12). "TAPESTRIES OF HOPE Screening in New York". Altfg.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  24. ↑ "Viagra in Austria for sale". Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  25. ↑ Tapestries of HopeAboutTimelineAbout (2007-11-15). "Tapestries of Hope - Résumé". Facebook. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  26. ↑ "Tapestries of Hope: See A Movie, Make A Difference". Shaping Youth. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.