Michelle Taylor Willis, a Florida native now living in Atlanta, is married with four sons. She is the host of the According to Michelle TV Show and the According to Michelle radio show, and is an award-winning media executive, influencer, media personality, author, actress, and master strategist.

Michelle is the founder and owner of Gagnant Media and MTW Enterprises. Michelle founded SoFu Lifestyle Magazine (formerly South Fulton Lifestyle Magazine) and is a champion for entrepreneurship and small business ownership. As an advocate for the small business and nonprofit communities, she chairs the Advisory Board for the United Way of Greater Atlanta (South Fulton), and also serves on the board of Theatre du Reve, the only French-speaking theater in America. She also serves as the Vice President of Film and Entertainment on the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Additionally, Michelle is on the advisory board of the Morris Brown College Foundation, and she sits on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance. Michelle also served on the Atlanta Court Appointed Special Advocate Board of Directors.

Michelle is the 2023 recipient of the 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta Impact Award. She has been recognized as “Top 100 Influential Women in Georgia and Atlanta” several times by different organizations, and “Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Atlanta.” The Atlanta Business Journal named her “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Atlantans.” SoFu Lifestyle was named “Publication of the Year ” in Atlanta for three consecutive years. Michelle received the Pioneer award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 2022. She has also been recognized as the “Outstanding Businessperson of the Year” and “Small Business of the Year” by the South Fulton Chamber.

“I am thrilled to join the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation Board, where I look forward to leveraging my commitment to literacy and community enrichment in advancing the foundation’s objectives in education and community development within the Atlanta community.”

– Michelle Taylor Willis

Additionally, Michelle has also been recognized for her work with youth in the community, and she received a resolution from Georgia State Representative Roger Bruce and a proclamation as “Outstanding Georgia Citizen” from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Former Georgia State Senator Lester Jackson and Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan recognized November 18, 2021 as
Michelle Taylor Willis Day in the state of Georgia at the Capital for her work within the business and birth communities, while February 18, 2021, is Michelle Taylor Willis Day in the City of South Fulton.

Michelle created SoFu®, the name used to refer to the eight cities of South Fulton County in Atlanta. She also created the Moms All In® conference for female executives and entrepreneurs. During the height of the global pandemic in 2020, she released her first book titled “Raising Significance: A Guide to Raising Independent, Well-Rounded and Confident Kids, which landed her a spot on the Tamron Hall show.

Michelle is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Atlanta Business League, and the National Association of Black Journalists. Michelle made her film debut in 2022, and is pursuing more acting opportunities. She recently starred as the female lead in Dana Hubbard’s “Never Play With a Woman’s Heart” and is featured in TV, film and theater projects. She will be going into production in fall 2023 for a new tv project., and she is also the host of “Black is the New Green” on Radivision.com. Michelle is a global speaker focusing on significance, empowerment, entrepreneurship, parenting and sales.

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation welcomes Michelle Taylor Willis to our Board of Directors.

AFPLF
AFPLF
For over 35 years, the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Foundation has worked in partnership with the Fulton County Library System to secure the System's future as an indispensable community resource through advocacy, raising public awareness, and generating private funding.