Michael Tanner
"To change the world, start with unshakable belief."
My Team
Our marketing team at Lessen is a diverse and talented group that collaborates with every part of the company to promote our message and build the Lessen brand. We operate at the intersection of the unique requirements of each business line and the creative marketing tactics that set Lessen apart and fuel growth. It's a demanding yet rewarding place to be! Each team member is a lifelong learner, driven by the pursuit of continual improvement. We are a group that thrives on flexibility, entrepreneurship, and high expectations, both within our team and with our partners, to become more than the sum of our individual parts. Our success is rooted in our mutual respect and appreciation, our honest acceptance of our strengths and weaknesses, and our commitment to our shared values.
Lessens Learned
I grew up in a 30-year family-owned hotel, restaurant, and real estate property business with entrepreneurial parents. As a kid, the employees were like my extended family, so I quickly became interested in learning how businesses work. At fourteen, the business hit some troubled times, and that experience made me think about career stability, so I went to college to become an engineer.
But, after college, I caught the technology bug. I joined a software startup and traveled the world at twenty-two, supporting and selling engineering design and 3D graphics software, then product management, and eventually, leading marketing. After a while, I went out on my own, moved to Silicon Valley, and co-founded a strategy consultancy firm where I worked with a diverse array of brilliant people, launching products and services for over 100 companies across two continents. My clients ranged from well-known, global technology brands to tiny startups with their first round of funding. I’m thankful to have worked with people who are sharp, passionate, talented, driven, competitive, and occasionally downright nuts.
One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is the power of belief. Your true beliefs shape your daily thoughts, and these thoughts drive your actions. The universe responds to this, reinforcing your beliefs. Therefore, if you aspire to change the world, you must first change what you believe. This philosophy has been a guiding light in my journey.
