Meet Michelle Rouse Fox | Founder and CEO Foxygen Consulting

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Rouse Fox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle Rouse, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
In Viktor Frankl’s book Mans Search for Meaning he recounts the mental attitudes he adopted in order to survive a German concentration camp. He discovered that even in the most extreme and devastating conditions, a human could never be stripped of their “freedom to choose one’s own attitude in any given set of circumstances and to choose one’s own way.”

This book resonated with me deeply as I began to formulate and merge my experiences as a therapist and my work in Organizational Development and leadership training.

This is one of Foxygen’s fundamental values; as human beings we have a choice in our thoughts, feelings and behaviors and when we exercise our choice in attitudes we generate the power for better change.

What should our readers know about your business?
We’ve been asked often about our name and how we settled on Foxygen… So During our early development days we were discussing how we wanted others, specifically companies and organizations to view us and the work we do. My response was that I wanted us to be synopsis with a breath of fresh air or relief. My last name is Fox (thanks to my husband for that gem!) adding Fox to Oxygen and Foxygen was born!
In todays business world where there are consultants, coaches and gurus for every aspect of the working world, we knew we wanted to bring something not just different but deeper, justifiable and sustainable. We specialize in people strategies. We are able to provide information, advice and guidance driven by data and science first. We are really proud of the proprietary tools and products we have created that look at what we call the Whole Minded approach. So often the tools and initiatives used in corporate leadership are one dimensional looking at only one aspect of individuals, ie: personality traits, behaviors assessments, and communication styles. While these have and offer incredible value, they only reveal a limited view of a whole person or group. At Foxygen we are able to create that whole view using scientific methods, data analysis and other tools that reveal motivations, engagement depths, industry knowledge deficits, management impacts and a number of other key factors that influence the health of human capital within an organization across all industries.
We enjoy most working with companies that already value their human capital and seek out new opportunities for them to continue to expound on their progress.
One of the difficult lessons we’ve learned is that if we have to convince a leadership team to invest in their people, it will require more effort than anticipated. However, once they do, the benefits and growth are substantial and rewarding.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Summertime in the ATL is spectacular and as a big baseball family, we’d make sure to catch a Braves game and spend time at the Battery, making sure to catch a dueling piano show at The Park Bench! Growing up in Georgia means a deep loyalty to coca-Cola and we enjoy taking our out-of-towners to the Coke museum and then a stop at The Varsity on the way home. I grew up near the Marietta Square and one of our favorite brunch spots is Sugar Cakes and a walk around the park because the food coma is for real after the best French inspired meal this side of New Orleans!
We feel spoiled that we live in Woodstock and enjoy the small town vibes of our downtown so we like introducing our friends to all that it has to offer… great restaurants, beautiful parks, the farmers market on Saturday mornings and the bike trails. Most of all we love hosting and with 4 kids (three of whom are teenage boys!) we have tried to create a home that is comfortable and fun. We would spend time out back watching our kids play Wiffle Ball on our field, or pickleball in our cul-de-sac if an intense basketball game isn’t underway. We’d make sure that our friends get to feed our chickens and try out farm fresh eggs… they really do taste better, just ask our chicks! And no visit to GA could be complete without at least a quick drive north to see our beautiful mountains and a stop at my parents house for my mom’s homemade biscuits!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s absolutely no way Foxygen would be where it is without Christina Freeman who is our Creative Designer and Apprentice Leadership Consultant. She has been with me since 2018 and has been a constant presence of encouragement and partnership. In 2023, Katherine Louthan joined our team as our Director of Business Development. I had been hoping and subtly trying to get her to join us for a while because her insight to scaling business is unmatched. She regularly inspires and pushes me to think outside my own business box and she’s quick to find the value in almost anything and everyone.
Without a doubt, Foxygen Consulting would not have launched without Tom, my husband. He has listened to my desire to disrupt the way we work. In 2017 he told me it was time when I was in a period of transition unsure of exactly which direction to go.
And then there are my parents and the incredible work ethic and 30+ years of loyalty to the same companies they worked for. I’ve been inspired and embarrassingly privileged to have managers and bosses that were mentors and made going to work exciting! Finally, the clients I’ve gotten to work with over the years, the immense honor it is to walk with and along side others on their journey, hearing their stories and experiences and being invited to join them… it’s this that is the absolute best and most inspiring part of this good work.

Website: https://Foxygenconsulting.com

Linkedin: Foxygen Consulting

Other:

Image Credits
Foxygen logo- Christina Freeman