Michelle Winkles Named to Top 50 Women in Business for 2025 by Pacific Coast Business Times
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Michelle Winkles Named to Top 50 Women in Business for 2025 by Pacific Coast Business Times

We’re proud to share that Michelle Winkles, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, has been named to the Pacific Coast Business Times‘ 2025 Top 50 Women in Business listThis award celebrates trailblazing women across the Central Coast who are driving innovation, growth, and impact in their industries—and Michelle is a shining example of all three.

Michelle is a Standout Leader in Marketing and Strategy

With over two decades of experience in marketing and business leadership, Michelle has helped shape Mission Wealth into the nationally recognized and accredited firm it is today. Her work spans digital transformation, brand development, and strategic growth initiatives that fuel both lead generation and long-term client relationships.

Michelle is not only a dynamic leader, but also an incredible partner in shaping our firm’s future,” said Dannell StuartPresident of Mission Wealth. “Her innovative mindset, collaborative spirit, and deep understanding of our clients and brand have made a huge impact on Mission Wealth’s continued success. This recognition is well-earned, and we’re thrilled to see her celebrated among the region’s top women in business.”

Michelle has redefined what marketing looks like in the wealth management space—building out a cutting-edge marketing tech stack, championing organic SEO and social media engagement, and crafting compelling content that drives both connection and credibility. Under her guidance, Mission Wealth’s marketing engine has become a key driver of growth, extending the firm’s reach and reputation nationwide.

An Industry Influencer and Innovator

Michelle’s impact extends beyond Mission Wealth. She has shared her insights from the stage at national industry events, such as Future Proof Citywide, and created the industry’s first CMO Collective share group—a powerful community for marketing leaders across the RIA space to collaborate and elevate the profession.

She has also been featured in numerous media appearances and podcasts, bringing fresh thinking to conversations on digital marketing, organic growth, and the evolution of the client experience.

Michelle’s dedication extends to her community involvement. She supports CALM, an organization dedicated to preventing childhood trauma, healing children and families, and building resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County.

A Well-Deserved Honor

Michelle was first recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times, having been named one of their “Top 40 Under 40” in 2018. Being selected again, this time as a Top Woman in Business, reflects her continued leadership, innovation, and influence in a rapidly changing industry.

As the Pacific Coast Business Times team put it in their special report, the honorees are “a stunning amount of stars.” We couldn’t agree more.

Congratulations, Michelle! We’re honored to work alongside you and look forward to seeing what you achieve next.

Want to Learn More About the Top Women in Business?

Check out the full feature at Pacific Coast Business Times – Top Women in Business.

Past Mission Wealth Top Women in Business Honorees include Dannell Stuart (2023, 2020, 2018, and 2015), Jenna Rogers (2022), Renee Hennessee (2021), Tricia Fahnoe (2024, 2019, and 2016), and Amanda Thomas (2017).

Mission Wealth did not pay a fee to participate in this award.

Mission Wealth is a Registered Investment Adviser. This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Mission Wealth employees providing such comments. It should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Mission Wealth or performance returns of any Mission Wealth client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing in this commentary constitutes investment advice, performance data, or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Mission Wealth manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

MISSION WEALTH IS A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR. 00700088 03/25

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Michelle Winkles
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

Michelle Winkles is an innovative marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations grow through strategic marketing, brand development, digital transformation, and AI-forward innovation. As Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, she leads the firm’s enterprise marketing strategy, supporting both organic and integration-driven growth while expanding the company’s national reach.

Michelle is known for building modern marketing organizations that combine data-driven insights, emerging technologies, and authentic storytelling to create meaningful client experiences. She has developed a sophisticated marketing technology ecosystem that strengthens brand visibility, improves engagement, and helps transform prospects into long-term client relationships. Today, she is leading Mission Wealth’s AI-forward marketing initiatives, integrating artificial intelligence across content strategy, advisor enablement, digital experiences, and marketing operations to drive scalable growth while keeping the human connection at the center.

Passionate about advancing the marketing profession within wealth management, Michelle is the co-founder of the CMO Collective, the RIA industry’s first peer community dedicated to bringing marketing leaders together to share ideas, challenge one another, and elevate the profession. She also hosts a monthly virtual Marketing Leaders Meetup, where chief marketing officers and senior marketing executives from leading wealth management firms collaborate on emerging trends, best practices, and the future of the industry. In addition, she authors The State of Wealth Management Marketing, a thought leadership series highlighting the evolving strategies, technologies, and conversations shaping the next generation of marketing in the RIA space.

A respected voice in the industry, Michelle is frequently invited to speak at national conferences, participate in executive leadership panels, and join podcasts focused on AI, growth strategy, digital transformation, advisor enablement, and innovation in wealth management.

Michelle’s leadership has earned national recognition. She was named RIA Chief Marketing Officer of the Year at the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards and has been honored by the Pacific Coast Business Times as both a Top Woman in Business and a 40 Under 40 recipient.

She holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, and Nonprofit Social Business from Antioch University, Santa Barbara.

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