Michele Ruiz
Born (1965-01-21) January 21, 1965 (age 58)
Glendale, California
EducationCal State Fullerton
Occupation(s)News anchor, entrepreneur, author, public speaker
Employer(s)CON 1989 - 1991
KTLA 1991 - 1998
KNBC 1998 - 2005
Known forFormer anchor for KNBC-TV
Co-founder and CEO of BiasSync
President and CEO of Ruiz Strategies
Children2
Awards5 Emmy Awards, 2 Golden Mikes, 1 LA Press Club Award
Websitewww.micheleruiz.com

Michele Ruiz (born January 21, 1965), is an entrepreneur, award-winning broadcast journalist, author, public speaker and former Los Angeles news anchor for KNBC-TV. She is co-founder and CEO of BiasSync, a SaaS technology company that helps organizations identify and eliminate biases in the workplace.[1] She is also President and CEO of Ruiz Strategies, a communications firm that develops and executes content marketing strategies for businesses, government entities and executives.[2] She is also the founder and former President/CEO of SaberHacer.com, a bilingual educational broadband website for US Hispanics.[3] She maintains a self-titled blog on the site MicheleRuiz.com.

Early life

Ruiz was born in Glendale, California[4] on January 21, 1965.[citation needed] Her parents were Panamanian, and Ruiz described a difficult childhood growing up in Southern California dealing with racism, discrimination and poverty, an upbringing that she credits for making her "scrappy" and determined.[4] Her first language was Spanish, and she didn't learn English until she went to school.[4] She attended Cal State Fullerton while working full-time in a clerical position, and graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.[5]

Broadcasting career

Ruiz began her broadcasting career in 1989, co-anchoring Channel One News.[6] The program initially began as a pilot program broadcast in four high schools, before its national debut in 1990.[7]

From 1991 to 1998, Ruiz worked at KTLA in Los Angeles, California as a field reporter and morning anchor for the station's KTLA Morning News.[6] She also co-hosted a weekly public affairs program, called Making It! Minority Success Stories.[8]

In 1998, she joined KNBC-TV as a general assignment reporter.[9] In 2001, she was promoted to an anchor position, where she co-anchored the station's nightly 6:00 pm newscast with Chuck Henry.[10]

Journalism awards

Ruiz has received 19 Emmy Award nominations, and is a five-time honoree, as well as a four-time Golden Mike Award-recipient.[5] While at KTLA, she won three Los Angeles-area Emmys[11][12][13] and two Golden Mikes. In 2003, she won two more Emmys for her work on NBC4 news specials "Journey to Africa" and "LA Riots: Rubble to Rebirth." She has received numerous honors, including two Golden Mikes, for her work on NBC4's "Beating the Odds" series, and in 2002 was presented the LA Press Club Award for a series on autism.[5]

In 2005, two angel investors agreed to provide seed capital to launch a business idea from Ruiz. Two months later she decided to leave KNBC to become an entrepreneur.[4]

Entrepreneurial career

Saber Hacer

In 2006, Ruiz launched Saberhacer.com, a bilingual educational broadband website for US Hispanics.[6]

Michele Ruiz ~ My Life as a Latina Entrepreneur

Ruiz launched the website MicheleRuiz.com and started her personal brand, entitled "Michele Ruiz ~ My Life as a Latina Entrepreneur". In her self-titled blog, she publishes stories of her personal and professional life.[14]

Ruiz Strategies

In 2011, Ruiz started Ruiz Strategies, a strategic communications and content marketing services company that uses social media, new media, traditional media and virtual technologies to help companies and individuals promote themselves.[2][14]

BiasSync

In May 2019, along with Dan Gould, former VP of Technology at Tinder, and fellow entrepreneur Robin Richards, Ruiz co-founded the SaaS technology company BiasSync, focusing on anti-bias identification.[1] The company uses data from personal assessments to help companies identify and eliminate unconscious biases in the workplace.[15]

Author

In January 2016, Ruiz published her first book, a guide to legal marketing and advertising entitled Content Marketing For Lawyers.[16]

Charity work

Ruiz has served on the Board of Directors for the non-profit agency Para Los Niños for 13 years.[5] She has also served on the Cal State Fullerton College of Communications' Dean's Advisory Board.[17]

Awards and recognition

Ruiz was given two commendations for "Outstanding Citizenship for Civic Contributions" and "Dedication to the Community" by the City of Los Angeles. She was named "Latina of the Year" and "Comision Femenil De Los Angeles". She also received the Certificate of Congressional Commendation from the U.S. House of Representatives, a commendation letter from the United States Senate, and a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate.[18]

Ruiz was honored in 2006 with Cal State Fullerton's Vision & Visionaries award.[19] The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor that the university bestows on its graduates. It has been presented to titans in business, science, education, communications and the arts, and brings to the forefront, the vision, achievements and philanthropic efforts of Cal State Fullerton's graduates.[20]

In 2013, Ruiz was named "Inspiring Latina" and featured in Latina Magazine.[21] Also in 2013, Ruiz was named as a Champion of Diversity, by DiversityBusiness.com.[22]

Film appearance

Ruiz had a cameo role as a television reporter in the 1993 film Rising Sun, based on Michael Crichton's novel of the same name.[23]

Personal

Ruiz lives in Los Angeles.

References

  1. ^ a b "BiasSync launches to address unconscious bias in the workplace". bizjournals.com. 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  2. ^ a b "Empowering Yourself Through Your Passion in Business". womenofstandard.com. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  3. ^ "SaberHacer.com selected as Latino Business Awards finalist by the Los Angeles Business Journal". hispanicprblog.com. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  4. ^ a b c d "Inspiring Latina of the Week: Entrepreneur Michele Ruiz". latina.com. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  5. ^ a b c d "State Senator, Former News Anchor to Keynote University's 46th Annual Commencement". calstate.fullerton.edu. 2005-04-28. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  6. ^ a b c Zoeller, Nicole (9 December 2008), "In The Know", Inside Latina Entertainment and Media (Summer 2008): 41
  7. ^ "Critic's Notebook; TV News in the Schools: Which Channel, if Any?". The New York Times. 1990-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  8. ^ "A Showcase for Minorities 'Making It'". Los Angeles Times. 1996-02-19. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  9. ^ "Exec Shuffle". Variety. 1998-05-01. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  10. ^ "News Shift Results in Shake-Up at KNBC". Los Angeles Times. 2001-02-09. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  11. ^ "KCAL Takes Lion's Share of Local Emmy Awards : Television: But KTTV gets the coveted prize for best hourlong newscast. KCET's 'Life & Times' and KABC's 'City View' are the most-honored series, Governors Award is given to KTLA newsman Larry McCormick". Los Angeles Times. 1994-06-06. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  12. ^ "Lion's Share of L.A. Emmy Nods to KCAL". Los Angeles Times. 1994-04-29. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  13. ^ "KCBS tops local Emmy noms". Variety. 1997-04-25. Archived from the original on 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2016-03-28.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ a b "Ruiz Strategies The Latest Online Venture For Serial Entrepreneur". racingtowarddiversity.com. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  15. ^ "Interview with Michele Ruiz and Dan Gould, BiasSync". socaltech.com. 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  16. ^ "In the new book "Content Marketing For Lawyers" Communication Strategist Michele Ruiz Reveals How Attorneys Can Use Powerful Social Media Strategies to Attract More Clients and Become Legal Thought Leaders". kctv5.com. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  17. ^ "USHCC National Convention - Michele Ruiz". ushccconvention.com. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  18. ^ Cal State Fullerton >> Michele Ruiz. URL accessed on April 7, 2010.
  19. ^ "Past recipients - 2003". fullerton.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  20. ^ "About Vision & Visionaries". fullerton.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  21. ^ "Inspiring Latina of the Week: Entrepreneur Michele Ruiz". Talari.com. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  22. ^ "2013 "Champions of Diversity" Announced". diversitybusiness.com. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  23. ^ "IMDB - Rising Sun". imdb.com. Retrieved 2016-03-28.

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