Meet the Team

At The Collective Rise, we believe leadership isn’t a title—it’s a mindset anyone can develop. We're challenging outdated models that reward visibility and volume over substance and character. Leadership is not reserved for the chosen few; it’s a skillset and a journey open to all who are willing to rise. As co-founders, we’re committed to creating a new path—one that equips people with the fundamental leadership skills often overlooked in traditional training, and builds a culture where we grow stronger together.

  • Michael Dowling

    Co-Founder & Unlikely Leader

    Michael Dowling is the author of Unlikely Leader and a lifelong challenger of conventional leadership stereotypes. After rising through the ranks in high-performance industries where visibility often mattered more than authenticity, Michael discovered that some of the most capable leaders are the ones we tend to overlook. His work now focuses on helping individuals and organizations recognize, develop, and elevate leadership potential in unexpected places. Through storytelling, research, and practical tools, he empowers a new generation of leaders to rise—not by fitting the mold, but by embracing their own.

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  • Gailynn Gluth

    Co-Founder, Unlikely Leader & President of "Aha Moments" of Leadership Growth

    Gailynn Gluth brings over 30 years of experience in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Leadership Development, and Entrepreneurship. A former CEO of her own technology company and a seasoned executive, Gailynn has worked with leading global organizations including Host Marriott Services, Starbucks, Boeing, and British Petroleum UK. She has also worked for and alongside nonprofits of all sizes, supporting mission-driven teams through periods of growth, change, and leadership transition.

    Now a self-described “recovering executive,” Gailynn focuses her energy on designing and delivering transformative leadership programs rooted in the latest global research. She is passionate about equipping the next generation of leaders—from the frontline to the C-suite—with the insights and tools to lead with authenticity and impact.

    Certified in Myers-Briggs Steps I & II and proudly known as a leadership and coaching nerd, Gailynn blends deep expertise with a modern, human-centered approach to development.

    She now lives in the mountains outside Park City, Utah, with her husband and their new puppy. She finds joy in hiking, gardening, and spending quality time with their adult son over good meals and better conversations.

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