Michelle Edgar '21 Contributor Since 2021

Michelle Edgar has built a career at the intersection of social impact, entertainment, sports, fashion, and culture. As a connector and founder, she has worked closely with talent, management, brands, and business leaders to ideate, strategize and build impactful marketing campaigns. As a strategic marketing executive with an emphasis on driving value for IP, talent and brands, Michelle has launched talent-focused global campaigns on behalf of both brands and agencies. She is joining the Compton Unified School District as the senior director of partnerships bringing programs, resources and funding to the district across entertainment, sports, technology and STEM. As Santa Monica Arts Commissioner, she is passionate about highlighting talented artists in the district and facilitating city-wide festivals and bringing arts and education programs to Santa Monica by creating opportunities for all ages and stages and walks of life. 

Starting in January, she will be an adjunct professor at Northwestern University teaching a Sports Law course on Endorsements, Name Image, and Likeness for college athletes. She additionally is a SBJ correspondent reporting on college athletics. The founder of Culture Collective, a marketing and experiential agency focused on public and private partnerships, Michelle and her team specialize in entertainment, music and sports. Culture Collective builds across city landscapes and community initiatives to create meaningful activations that leave an imprint and legacy on society and culture. Recently, the Centre of Sport & Human Rights (CSHR) hired Culture Collective to lead strategy around its partnership with the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a focus on supporting host cities taking concrete actions and committing resources to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of children during the life cycle of the World Cup and beyond. Prior to founding Culture Collective, Michelle led creative brand marketing campaigns through executive roles held at SpringHill, Epic Records, ICM Partners, Warner Bros. Records and Redlight Management. Previous artist clients include Mary J. Blige, Anderson Paak, Gary Clark Jr., Travis Scott, Rick Ross, Black Eyed Peas, Wu Tang Clan, Jennifer Hudson, Josh Groban, Meghan Trainor and Madison Beer.

As a connector, creator, and culture marketer, acts of service and impacting change are at the core of Michelle’s life’s work. She is the founder of non-profit Music Unites, which funds school arts and music programs through public and private partnerships, as well as The XX Project, a platform that amplifies powerful women in arts and entertainment, Michelle is passionate about living a life based in purpose and service. Previously, she played an integral role in raising over $350k for City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Honoree, Epic Records Chairman/CEO Sylvia Rhone—the most ever raised by a single executive.

In addition to her multi-layered career, Michelle is constantly seeking to improve herself on a personal level. During COVID, she enrolled in the UCLA Law MLS program—from which she graduated in May 2023—and picked up competitive sprinting, becoming a two-time All-American sprinter while working full-time. Edgar is the recipient of the Lakers Comerica Bank Women of Promise Award and UCLA Law Serve Award for Public Policy recognizing students who have made outstanding pro bono, public interest, and public service contributions. She serves as a board member on the Compton Educational Foundation, Angel City Sports and UCLA Law MLS Alumni program.