Michelle Johnson is a Canadian fintech and AI leader with over 20 years’ experience in operational excellence, digital transformation, and strategic delivery across the UK, Ireland, Australia, and the Middle East.
An MIT-certified AI expert and MBA (Distinction) graduate, Michelle is a digital-native, but not as you know it… Receiving her first computer at age eight in 1982, she taught herself how to jailbreak it after her brother locked her out, lockinghim out in the process and turning revenge into an early tech lesson.
Since then, Michelle has pursued a career in tech, starting in ERP implementation and project management before moving into global payments and credit card ecosystems, where she held senior leadership roles including Global Head of Operations at Littlepay and Head of UK & Ireland for Fexco Payments & FX.
She is now the founder of Ideal Intelligence, a consultancy that helps SMEs and scaling businesses cut through the AI hype through practical training, AI-informed strategy, and low-cost automation.
Michelle is also a proven educator and public speaker delivering high-impact workshops and keynotes for audiences ranging from corporate leaders to emerging female founders. She is an advocate for inclusive innovation and frequently speaks about how AI is reshaping the future of work, from skills development and leadership culture to ethical deployment and societal impact.
As a writer and commentator Michelle explores the human side of AI. Her work examines how automation affects emotional intimacy, workplace dynamics, and political discourse, blending personal narrative with critical insight. She invites readers and audiences to consider not just what AI can do, but what it should do and who gets to decide.
