How the most impactful and visionary legends like Mike Ross are made? The answer lies in their fascinating journey, which, when written in the golden ink in the history books, turns into an awe-inspiring saga for generations to come.
Awarded today with ‘Excellence in Education, Future Forward Education (2025)’ for his significant contribution to education and learning, Mike grew up on the East Coast in New England, spending his childhood and early educational years there. In high school, he attended a Center for Technology, where hands-on learning and exposure to art, design, and technology deeply influenced his interests. This formative experience helped him overcome challenges associated with autism and learning difficulties, enabling him to discover a potential he hadn’t previously realized.
Traditional “by the book” education was not ideal for Mike, as he struggled to retain information in conventional settings. However, hands-on, interactive learning sparked his passion and engagement, particularly in design and technology. Supported by his family, Mike spent countless hours exploring creative tools and developing his craft, which became his solace and focus. Despite his limited social interactions, he cultivated his talents through self-driven projects and college classes.
As Mike’s portfolio grew, so did his desire to connect with a broader creative community. Feeling constrained by his rural surroundings, he decided to move west to California in 2010 to pursue opportunities in the creative industry. He enrolled in college in Los Angeles, determined to further his education and professional development.
Since settling on the West Coast, Mike has dedicated himself to his craft, blending work and passion. He has been employed with Los Angeles County since 2012 while simultaneously pursuing external projects aimed at societal benefit. These endeavors include developing youth-focused learning applications, establishing a nonprofit organization for education, initiating plans for a social enterprise, and continually enhancing his online portfolio.
Mike’s journey from New England to California reflects his unwavering determination to transform personal challenges into opportunities for growth. His story underscores the power of hands-on learning and a supportive environment in unlocking potential, paving the way for a fulfilling career in the creative industry.
Discovering Professional Aspirations
Also a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Green Belt Project Awardee (Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk) (2019) and earned a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Yellow Belt Certificate (Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk) (2016), for the completion of a Los Angeles County-based IT project that would improve processes and functions for the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and its associates, Mike discovered his career aspirations early, while still in high school. Initially drawn to design, including graphic and print work, illustrations, 3D modeling, and animations, he later developed an interest in functionality. Combining these passions, he began creating projects that merged visual design with practical application, experimenting with programming, application development, and web design.
After moving to the West Coast and beginning college, Mike entered the workforce in 2012, joining Los Angeles County’s elections headquarters (Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk). His professional journey fueled his passion for blending design and technology, inspiring him to establish a “creative solutions” business. This venture allowed him to offer diverse services, such as illustrations, web applications, native mobile apps, and SEO optimization, building a robust portfolio over several years.
As Mike’s focus shifted towards social impact, he redirected his skills and creativity toward meaningful causes. He founded a youth and education-focused nonprofit aiming to improve learning experiences, particularly for underserved communities. Drawing from his own upbringing in New England, where he had access to ample resources and opportunities, Mike recognized the stark contrast in challenges faced by students in disadvantaged areas.
Living in California heightened his awareness of societal issues such as poverty, crime, and homelessness, motivating him to act. His nonprofit endeavors include developing learning applications, digital surveys, and curricula to create better opportunities for students. By applying his expertise to projects that address these challenges, Mike strives to empower youth and foster a brighter future.
Learning Leadership Lessons
An Emerging Leaders Awardee (Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk) (2019), for the completion of a 6-month program designed to develop mentor and mentee relationships in which the awardee fulfills leadership lessons and assignments and communicates progress with their mentor, Mike has honed his time management skills over the years, adopting a disciplined approach to daily planning. He maintains task journals to outline objectives and rigorously ensures their completion. By planning schedules in advance, Mike seamlessly integrates professional and personal activities. When unexpected events arise, he reschedules tasks rather than omitting them, often extending work into evenings, nights, and weekends to accommodate his dynamic commitments.
Driven by a desire to push ideas, products, and solutions forward, Mike’s approach to business emphasizes creating impactful, scalable outcomes. Early in his career, he undertook freelance and one-off projects but soon realized the limitations of gig work. To develop a stronger “voice” and ensure scalability, he transitioned to building structured business models supported by branding and marketing.
Mike believes business models add weight and credibility to his work, allowing him to deliver cohesive solutions. Instead of creating isolated “floating” projects, he ties a series of products under a unified brand, enhancing their visibility and long-term value. This strategic shift enables him to provide clients with interconnected solutions while maintaining a consistent identity.
A key advantage of operating within a business framework is the ability to track progress and align all efforts with a clear mission statement. This mission acts as a guiding principle, ensuring that every product and service contributes to a unified purpose. For Mike, this alignment fosters consistency, enhances credibility, and reinforces his passion for creating meaningful, mission-driven work.
Furthermore, Mike is the winner of
- Best of Quarter, The Art Institute of Los Angeles – CA (2011) Award signifying the “best” Digital Identity Design project, Intermediate Authoring project, and Intermediate Web Design project completed for the quarter in the area of Web Design & Interactive Media.
- Best of Quarter, The Art Institute of Los Angeles – CA (2010) Award signifying the “best” Digital Illustration project completed for the quarter in the area of Graphic Design.
A Passionate Professional
Ardently passionate since his childhood, Mike draws inspiration from his family, friends, and mentors, who have consistently supported his pursuits and encouraged him to embrace new goals. He values mentorship as a guiding tool to navigate unfamiliar challenges. Inspired by individuals who remain focused despite adversity, Mike embodies a growth mindset, striving to overcome obstacles and push boundaries daily. His ultimate ambition is to create socially impactful businesses that deliver solutions benefiting communities.
Growing up on the East Coast, Mike’s childhood was shaped by a serene and resource-rich environment. Living in a small, adversity-free population provided him with a solid foundation for education and personal development. However, his move to the West Coast proved transformative. Initially captivated by iconic Los Angeles landmarks like the Santa Monica Pier and Hollywood Boulevard, he soon encountered the harsher realities of urban life, including poverty, crime, and homelessness.
This stark contrast opened Mike’s eyes to a world previously unseen. The experience cleared his ‘foggy’ perspective and instilled a profound awareness of societal struggles. This newfound clarity fueled his desire to channel his creative skills toward meaningful change. Witnessing these challenges deepened his commitment to leveraging his expertise for community upliftment, even through small but impactful steps.
Today, Mike’s work reflects his passion for addressing social issues through innovative solutions. His journey from a sheltered upbringing to embracing the complexities of urban life has profoundly shaped his mission to create a lasting positive impact.
A Tested Titan
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Mike’s professional journey, prompting a shift toward digital solutions. His nonprofit, focused on delivering classroom solutions, had to adapt its programming model to support both physical and digital access. Fortunately, early prototype solutions allowed for a smooth pivot without disrupting customer expectations. In the creative realm of design and technology, much of Mike’s work was already digital, minimizing disruptions.
The pandemic also deepened Mike’s awareness of societal challenges related to opportunity and access. This insight sparked new ideas, culminating in brainstorming sessions for social impact-driven solutions in fields like healthcare, education, technology, government, and the environment. He believes building business models around these ideas is crucial for driving innovation and developing a social enterprise.
Mike credits his strengths to his mindset rather than intelligence. Over the years, he has cultivated a growth mindset, enabling him to focus on long-term goals and view projects from a broad perspective. This abstract thinking often leads to innovative solutions. To stay organized and accountable, he uses daily notepads to track goals, providing visual cues for progress and task completion.
While Mike excels in conceptualization and planning, he acknowledges challenges in large-scale communication. His autism and independent nature have contributed to difficulties in addressing larger audiences. However, he is actively working on improving this skill, recognizing its importance for marketing his ideas. He advises others to practice public speaking through workshops, Toastmasters, or rehearsing elevator pitches to build confidence and mastery.
The pandemic ultimately reinforced Mike’s drive to create socially impactful solutions and enhanced his ability to adapt and innovate. His focus remains on leveraging his strengths while addressing weaknesses to achieve meaningful, community-focused outcomes.
A Principled Wisdom
Mike emphasizes the importance of visions and passions as a professional’s greatest gifts. He advises documenting goals, starting with high-level outlines and breaking them into actionable steps. Developing a mission statement is crucial, and seeking mentorship for guidance in articulating it can be invaluable. For larger ambitions, he suggests building a team of stakeholders, volunteers, and interns, creating a brand and business around the vision to attract like-minded collaborators.
Mike’s leadership philosophy is grounded in fostering collaboration rather than hierarchy. He views leadership as a horizontal partnership where all team members work together as allies. By promoting a two-way understanding, he strives to create a positive, inclusive culture that empowers his team while remaining mission-aligned.
For professional growth and success, Mike advocates adopting a growth mindset and maintaining focus on the big picture. He acknowledges the fear and pressure that come with leadership but encourages viewing these challenges as motivators. Breaking goals into smaller, achievable steps while keeping long-term visions in sight can provide clarity and direction. This forward-thinking approach allows for progress even when faced with daunting obstacles.
Mike also emphasizes the value of perseverance and reflection. He believes every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Falling forward, even during setbacks, is part of the journey. He encourages using experiences to empathize with and uplift others, fostering unity in an increasingly divided world. By staying committed to growth and collaboration, Mike aims to inspire a shared vision of success and progress.
