Michel has built a career by becoming an expert on company culture, employee performance and customer experience
From earning $12/hour working in a call centre and then consulting for a $100,000,000,000 telecommunications company when he was 25-years old to building a $15,000,000 hospitality company in Toronto in two years and then starting over again with the motivation to build a fast casual restaurant brand.
Keep reading below to learn the behind-the-scenes story of how Michel built his career.
Snapshot
Career Snapshot
2007
Michel joins 1-800-GOT-JUNK?’s corporate office as a call center agent earning $12/hour.
2008
Discovers the power of company culture, customer experience and employee engagement as growth strategies.
2011
Was promoted five times within five years while at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? His last role was within the customer experience operational team.
2012
Falcon Consulting Group, is started from his parent’s dining room table. Michel helps companies with their customer experience and employee engagement strategies.
2014
Verizon Wireless calls & hires Michel to help with their strategies.
2014
Other recognizable clients like BlueCross BlueShield, Electronic Arts and, Alfa Romeo continue to contact Michel.
2016
Michel moves to Toronto to start a hospitality business with his partners. In two short years, they grow the business to $15,000,00 with 150+ employees.
2017
McDonald’s Canada selects Michel to be their National National Spokeperson for their Hiring Day Campaign.
2018
Michel publishes his first book, People-First Culture: Build a Lasting Company By Shifting Your Focus From Profits to People.
2022
Michel opens Brasa Peruvian Kitchen; a fast casual restaurant brand during the pandemic. The company opens three locations within the first 18 months.
2024
Brasa Peruvian Kitchen opens their first USA based restaurant in New York City.
Born in Edmonton, Canada, raised in Vancouver and currently living in New York with Sophia and Maggy.
My upbringing was very humble. My father, mother, sister and I lived in a small duplex with one bathroom. I went to an elementary school where I was one of only a few people that had immigrant parents and I was definitely the only Peruvian. I’m ashamed to say that I was embarrassed to be Peruvian because I was bullied for a myriad of different reasons. Whether it was because of my different name or the food that I’d bring for lunch that looked and smelled different than the ham sandwiches others would have. Unbeknownst to me this would drive me to build a business 25 years later.
Career
My career began in 2007 as a call centre agent working for a medium-sized company (1-800-GOT-JUNK?) in Vancouver, Canada. The company was recognized for being one of the best workplaces in all of Canada. This company taught me entrepreneurship, customer experience management, employee engagement, company culture and more. I was promoted five times in five years.
During my time with the company, I recognized that customer experience, employee engagement and company culture would grow to become my expertise. Back then, there weren’t as many people talking about these topics as they are now.
Leaving Company
After leaving the company in 2012, I started what I thought would grow to become the largest agency of its kind (it didn’t) so I called it, Falcon Consulting Group.
My upbringing was very humble. My father, mother, sister and I lived in a small duplex with one bathroom. I went to an elementary school where I was one of only a few people that had immigrant parents and I was definitely the only Peruvian. I’m ashamed to say that I was embarrassed to be Peruvian because I was bullied for a myriad of different reasons. Whether it was because of my different name or the food that I’d bring for lunch that looked and smelled different than the ham sandwiches others would have. Unbeknownst to me this would drive me to build a business 25 years later.
News
I have been included in publications like Business Insider, Inc, Entrepreneur, Forbes and Time.
Hospitality Company
In 2016, I left the consulting world and started a hospitality company with my business partners in Toronto, Canada.
In only two years, we grew the company to $15,000,000+ in profitable revenue and 150+ employees. This was accomplished while also earning a Net Promoter Score in the 70-80’s range. We were even profiled in Food & Wine magazine because of the employee experience and company culture strategies I built. Building this business was very hard and something I’ll always remember.
McDonald’s Canada
In 2018, I was hired to be the spokesperson for McDonald’s Canada National Hiring Day Campaign.
This was cool because my first job when I was 13 years old was working at a McDonald’s in Vancouver.
My Book
Also, in October 2018, I released a book titled, “People-First Culture: Build a Lasting Business by Shifting Your Focus From Profits to People” which became a bestseller.
I’ve traveled to countries like Canada, USA, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Israel, Lithuania and many others to speak at events and host book signings. Be sure to ask me what happened in Saudi Arabia; it was very embarrassing.
In 2020, my friend Clay Hebert helped me develop the “Steer Your Career” slogan.
I’m now hired by companies to speak on this topic to share the lessons I’ve learned about growing a great career. I love speaking directly to individuals who are just starting their career and to first-time managers. I want to share a message that would have helped 21-year-old Michel so that I can pay it forward to other emerging leaders.
One of my goals is to build a company that I’ve always dreamed of. One where our people truly come first. This ensures that our guests, suppliers, communities, and investors are served well too.
I’m now hired by companies to speak on this topic to share the lessons I’ve learned about growing a great career. I love speaking directly to individuals who are just starting their career and to first-time managers. I want to share a message that would have helped 21-year-old Michel so that I can pay it forward to other emerging leaders.
My career has seen many, “It’s working” and just as many “I don’t know if I’m cut out for this?” but one thing that remains consistent is that I will always be a student. I’m obsessive when it comes to my own learning and I do so by reaching out to others who are excelling in their own fields.
Restaurant
From 2022 - 2024 I opened four more Brasa Peruvian Kitchen locations with our first US-based restaurant in New York.
Teams By Michel Falcon
In 2025, I launched Teams By Michel Falcon; a virtual community of senior leaders who come together to learn my People-First Culture strategies. It's some of my most fulfilling work to date.
If you'd like to have me speak at your event, please complete the contact form.