Michele Borba

Michele Borba, a renowned educational psychologist and speaker, is an authority on moral development, raising children and adolescents, violence prevention, and bullying. Her book, Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed In Our All-About-Me World, was named an Amazon Best Book of 2016, and has since remained one of the popular titles on navigating self-absorption.

Growing up in a small, low-income farming town, Michele cultivated a passion for helping others early in her career. After earning her degree in education and human development from California’s San Diego State University, she became a school teacher. Although she eventually left the classroom, Michele adopted the titular idea of unselfie and continued her work in the fields of psychology, educational consulting, and parenting.

This body of work has resulted in the publication of more than twenty books, including best-sellers, such as The Big Book of Parenting Solutions and Unselfie. Michele’s latest book, Thrivers: The Surprising Reason Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine, was also named a best book of 2020.

Throughout all of Michele’s books, she provides parents with insights and actionable tips on raising emotionally secure and socially ready children. In her book, Unselfie, she demonstrates how older generations have failed to recognize the magnitude of the narcissistic issue in our culture, and how this has caused parents to miss the chance to raise their children with empathy.

In one of her keynote speeches, Michele talks about how narcissism is not only lurking within the “all-about-me” culture, but it’s also turning into a habit with our children. She further suggests that while striving for success, achievement and popularity can be fruitful, they should not be taken to the detriment of developing compassion and empathy in our children. The only way to create resilient, kind and empathetic young adults is to train children in self-awareness and self-management skills early.

Michele remains a strong advocate for the development of self-motivation, character and resilience in children. She has also formulated what she calls her “9 C’s of Essential Character-Building” – nine skills that parents should focus on cultivating in their children from an early age to ensure that they have the power to lead an emotionally-healthy and successful life. This includes skills such as cooperation, conscience, compassion, communication and more.

Michele’s work and experience make her one of the notable proponents of children’s well-being. Through her books and speeches, she puts great emphasis on empathy, collaboration, respect and kindness, making her an important contributor in the field of parenting. With her pieces of advice, parents can find the resources and guidance for shaping a healthy environment for their children.