Name: Michael Sterling
Profession: Executive Director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency
Age: 33
One Word That Describes You: Focused
Michael Sterling’s top priority is creating an agency that will provide real and meaningful results for the businesses and job seekers in the City of Atlanta. An accomplished lawyer, political advisor and proud public servant, Sterling is now the Executive Director of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency. As the former Senior Advisor to Mayor Kasim Reed, he provided guidance on criminal justice and labor policy, oversaw judicial and commission appointments and managed local, state and federal relations. Under Mr. Sterling’s leadership, the City of Atlanta established its first Office of Entertainment to support the city’s thriving film industry.
Inspired by ordinary people who have encouraged him to do something that helps lift people up, Sterling is making unprecedented strides in the City of Atlanta. “It’s been the single mother, the abandoned teenager, the drop-out looking for another chance, the homeless veteran trying to find a job,” Sterling tells BE Modern Man. “More than anything else, it’s been my family – mom and dad, grand mom and sisters pushing, encouraging and allowing me to follow my heart into service rather than pursuing opportunities to make more money.”
A first generation college graduate, the son and grandson of union workers, Sterling did not let what others may have not had the opportunity to do deter him from pursuing his goals. “I had to find guidance in my journey,” says Sterling. Constantly the youngest person in the room with the most responsibility has presented its fair share of challenges. “I’ve consistently been given some of the biggest problems and challenges throughout my career and I’ve had to avoid excuses – even legitimate ones – to meet every problem and challenge. Doing it the right way with the right intentions has helped.”
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During the greatest recession our country has seen in 80 years, Sterling was handpicked by the Mayor of Atlanta to join his team as a senior advisor. Atlanta was faced with declining income tax rolls, over 100 million in revenue loss, and tough choices about priorities in public safety, and rising unemployment. “We had tough choices to make about priorities in public safety, rising unemployment, and how to effectively deliver city services for Atlanta residents,” Sterling tells BE Modern Man. “Even during those difficult times, we fought hard to serve the residents of Atlanta and I have had the opportunity to reform one of the city’s most dysfunctional organizations.”
Taking advantage of every opportunity placed in from of him and then delivering results has allowed Sterling to emerge as a leader amongst his peers. “People want to know that you have good intent, that you are always getting better professionally and that you deliver results. If you do those things, you build credibility and trust.”
One of Sterling’s favorite quotes is that “greatness, it turns out, is not a function of circumstance, it is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline. Many BE Modern Man hopefuls are looking up to and watching Sterling’s moves as he serves the City of Atlanta. “I would tell those young men that hard work cannot be substituted and that no matter what professional pursuits you want to pursue, or what goals you want to achieve, hard work and self-discipline are not optional, it’s essential,” says Sterling. He also warns against doing things that can easily stunt your personal and professional growth. “In this hyper connected social media world, don’t find yourself doing something that takes you out of the game. You are always on the clock.”
Clocked in and making an impact, Sterling says that “Being a BE Modern Man
means working to set an example that others can follow through living a life that is worthy of the title and that can stand up even under public examination.” Sterling was once told that young people may not listen to you, but they will imitate you. “Being a BE Modern Man means that people are imitating you in a positive way, and that it is a good thing.”The BE Modern Man team salutes Michael Sterling for committing his life to one of service, and helping the city’s unemployed and underemployed find work while assisting the city’s businesses find the talent they need to survive. We support Mr. Sterling as he continues to provide hope and opportunity to the residents of Atlanta that need his services.
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