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Michelle Armstrong
Michelle Armstrong
00:53

Michelle Armstrong

Ares Management Corporation & Ares Charitable Foundation

Washington, DC USA

"Understand not just your own perspective but learn to look through the perspective of others so that you can really develop a well-rounded, 360-degree perspective on the world."

Career Roadmap

Michelle's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Business, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

Managing Director & President

I oversee philanthropic initiatives to accelerate economic opportunity, equity, and equality.

02:42

Day In The Life Of A Managing Director In Philanthropy

My Day to Day

As the managing director at Ares Management and president of the Ares Charitable Foundation, my days involve a mix of strategic planning and hands-on tasks. I juggle between working with nonprofits, creating communications plans, and managing administrative duties like budgets and contracts. My small team and I handle everything from writing reports to editing videos, making sure our philanthropic efforts make a real difference in the communities we serve.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Anthropology

    Harvard University

  • Graduate Degree

    Sociology and Education

    Teachers College, Columbia University

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    Growing up, I thought I’d be a doctor or lawyer, but my curiosity about human behavior led me to study social anthropology.

  • 2.

    After college, I followed a traditional path into finance, thinking my social science background would fit investment banking.

  • 3.

    After college, I realized the finance world wasn’t for me and pivoted toward a more people-focused, meaningful career.

  • 4.

    Working in nonprofits, I helped first-generation college students and their parents navigate post-secondary opportunities.

  • 5.

    Graduate school deepened my understanding of education equity, leading me to impactful research projects with major foundations.

  • 6.

    I discovered that grant-making was a perfect career fit for me, blending my nonprofit experience with philanthropy to create real change in communities.

  • 7.

    I founded my own consultancy, helping foundations evaluate their funded programs and measure their effectiveness.

  • 8.

    Today, I lead the Aries Charitable Foundation, connecting business and philanthropy to tackle income and wealth disparities globally.

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