Michila Macleod
Commercial & Executive Leader
With over two decades of experience in the media industry, Michila Macleod has built a reputation for leading high-performing, revenue-generating teams that drive growth and commercial success.
Now bringing her expertise into the not-for-profit sector as General Manager of Partnerships at FightMND, Michila is passionate about creating meaningful, purpose-driven partnerships that make a real impact. Her approach is anchored in authenticity, a client-centric mindset, and a commitment to building strong, lasting relationships.
Having held leadership roles across major publishers, Michila has developed exceptional stakeholder management skills, allowing her to nurture relationships both internally and externally. Her career has been defined by innovation, strategic thinking, and an unwavering dedication to excellence—for herself, her clients, and the teams she leads.With over two decades of experience in the media industry Michila has demonstrated her ability to lead high performing, revenue generating teams, resulting in growth and commercial success.
Career & Background
What inspired you to do what you are doing now?
After 20 years in commercial partnerships, I knew I wanted my next role to be in a business with real purpose—where I could use my expertise to drive meaningful impact. I’ve always been passionate about building strong, authentic partnerships, and I wanted to take that skill set into a space where the outcomes weren’t just about commercial success, but also about making a real difference.
Moving into the not-for-profit sector has given me the opportunity to do exactly that. At FightMND, I’m able to leverage my experience in partnerships while also challenging myself to grow and develop new skills in a completely different environment. It’s incredibly rewarding to work with people and businesses who are just as passionate about the cause as they are about the collaboration. I love seeing how the right partnerships can create lasting change and impact—not just for the organisation, but for the people and communities we support. And knowing that every day, our work is contributing to the fight to find a cure for MND is one of the most motivating reasons to get up and do what we do.
Could you tell us a bit about your professional background and where you are headed in your career right now?
I started my career working in magazines. In an era pre social and digital. It was all the good bits of Devil Wears Prada and so much more! I LOVED those days. After a stint in the UK working for the BBC, I came back to Australia with the desire to upskill and learn a new medium. I moved into digital and radio and that’s where I cut my teeth in people leading. I’ve remained in digital for over the last decade, most recently at Broadsheet where I fell in love with the power of content and the connection we had with our audiences and in turn what that meant for our client partnerships.
After taking the time to reflect and consider what I wanted from my next role, I decided to consult across a few different businesses. I didn’t want to rush into the wrong role, so I took the opportunity to work on projects where I could add value, while keeping an eye out for the right fit. Ultimately, that’s how I found my perfect role as the GM of Partnerships at FightMND.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
I was hoping to have a better answer than last year – but still I have a small child who prevents me from even reading a text message, let alone a book. Next year, I will have something, I promise!
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
Mamamia
Imperfects
Mel Robbins
Shameless
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
- Authenticity
- Kindness
- Loyalty
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
I’ve been fortunate to work with inspiring female leaders throughout my career, including Andrea Salmon (Director of Sales at Nine), Danika Johnston (MD of WeAre8), Jaclyn Clements (GM of Media at Clemenger), and Sian Whitaker (MD at Broadsheet Media). From them, I’ve learned the importance of fostering genuine relationships, understanding the “why” behind ideas, backing myself as a leader, and constantly innovating to stay relevant in challenging markets.
More recently, I’ve been inspired by Neale Daniher, Co-Founder of FightMND and the recently awarded Australian of the Year. His unwavering and fierce commitment to finding a cure for MND and his leadership in the face of personal adversity is truly motivating.
Personally, I’m grateful for my strong, supportive group of friends. Over 20+ years, they’ve been invaluable as we’ve navigated career milestones, pivots, and new opportunities. We challenge each other, fiercely but respectfully, to push forward in both our careers and personal lives.
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
I think it’s important to give back and support the next generation. This is my 4th year being a mentor with Assisterhood and I can honestly say it’s been so rewarding year after year.
I was lucky enough to have a strong network of peers and leaders to look up to that helped me navigate those early and sometimes confronting career conversations. I know this is not always the case.
If I can provide a safe space for a mentee to be vulnerable, bounce ideas, pressure test up coming conversation’s that might seem daunting and enable them to feel more confident, more informed and better prepared regardless of the outcome, that’s enough for me!
Sometimes the outcome is out of our control, business factors, economic factors. Being prepared for both outcomes can be incredibly empowering and often help to create a more professional experience for everyone involved.
What are the top 5 skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Compassionate
- Confident
- Generous with time
- Great listener
- Supportive
Ready to apply?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.