Edition name – Top influential woman leader of the year-2026

Michelle Ponto is the Founder and CEO of Blue Gecko Communications and a globally respected strategic narrative and positioning advisor to leaders and organizations in complex and highly regulated industries. An Emmy-nominated journalist and Top 50 Disrupter Awardee, she brings more than 20 years of experience helping executives articulate who they are, where they are going, and how to communicate that with credibility across the GCC, Europe, and North America.

In 2021, Michelle founded Blue Gecko Communications as a strategic narrative advisory focused on leadership positioning, market strategy, and enterprise-level communications in industrial and technical sectors. Her work supports organizations at critical moments — whether shaping corporate direction, repositioning in new markets, navigating leadership change, or communicating sustainability and operational performance. Blue Gecko is often called when the story is complex, the stakes are high, and credibility matters most.

For more than a decade, Michelle has worked directly with senior leaders in energy, petrochemicals, advanced materials, technology, and science-driven institutions. Known for her judgment, precision, and credibility, she is trusted to translate complex business strategy into communication that is commercially grounded, strategically aligned, and trusted by investors, regulators, customers, and employees alike.