Michelle Excell Photo: Supplied
Tech entrepreneur and founder of consulting company The Antipodean, Michelle Excell now proudly and happily calls Whanganui home.
Excell’s digital career started in 2002. Back then she was already living and breathing immersive technology. She then spent her 20s and 30s working at digital and advertising agencies; living in Australia, New York and San Francisco. During her 13 years in San Francisco, the world saw the rise and boom of start-ups like Uber, Lyft and AirBnB.
In 2015 Excell decided she no longer wanted to work for other people and started her own company. They assist brands or agencies who want to incorporate AR or VR into their products and she helps them navigate the digital landscape.
After living in Oakland, California, a visit to her mother in Whanganui in 2022 changed everything.
Despite still working on a US timezone and regularly travelling to the US, the businesswoman and entrepreneur is extremely involved in the local scene. Excell has made a concerted effort to meet leaders, professors, business owners and is even reaching out to students in hopes to put her knowledge and skills to use.
Michelle Excell spoke to Culture 101 about innovation, design and the technological future of Whanganui.
