GenXYZ 2015: Michelle Hadwiger

Margaret Jackson //September 1, 2015//

GenXYZ 2015: Michelle Hadwiger

Margaret Jackson //September 1, 2015//

The Transformer

Michelle Hadwiger

33 | Director of Corporate Development
Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Under Michelle Hadwiger’s leadership, OEDIT underwent a transformation to run like a private-sector business dedicated to efficient execution and timely delivery of success and performance-metric tracking. When she took over corporate development, she reinvigorated the team’s focus on business attraction, retention and expansion. Hadwiger also served as executive director of the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN), an initiative by Gov. John Hickenlooper to make Colorado the most innovative state in the nation. 

Biggest achievement

“The year of COIN was one of my biggest accomplishments because it’s outside of my normal job. I’m used to working with companies and bringing companies in. We looked outside the box to see how we could use this to create a business development pipeline.”

Making an impact

“Bringing creativity to government is not something people think about. The entrepreneurial mindset has been brought into disrupting business development strategies.”

Role model

“Ken Lund (former director of the office) has been a huge influence. He allowed me to think for myself and advised me to always be present and always make myself relevant and take a seat at the table.”

Best advice

“Never take a job based on where you want to work because you’ll never get where you want to go. Take a job based on who you want to work for, and you’ll always get where you want to go.”

Off-duty

Hanging out with 5-year-old daughter, going to the mountains, concerts.