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Michelle Zajac has a diverse work experience in the non-profit sector. Michelle started their career as an Administrative Supervisor at Ryther Child Center, where they managed an inpatient adolescent girl's safe house. Michelle was responsible for facilities management, quality assurance, program development, and budgeting. Following their role at Ryther, they worked at Residence XII as an Outpatient Coordinator. In this position, they coordinated outpatient services for individuals with addiction issues.

Michelle then transitioned to First Place for Youth, where they held various roles. Michelle started as the Assistant Director for the Solano Region, leading programs and services for foster youth. Michelle later became the Regional Director for Southern California, overseeing operations and strategic initiatives in the region. Michelle then took on the role of Director, Affiliate Network, where they launched a national affiliate network to scale the My First Place program. Michelle partnered with state child welfare agencies, developed data collection practices, and provided training and technical assistance to agency and nonprofit partners. Most recently, Michelle served as the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at First Place for Youth. In this role, they provided program expertise, sourced and developed new business partnerships, and facilitated cross-sector collaborations to support the organization's strategic plan and vision for impact.

Michelle Zajac completed their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Environmental Studies at Northeastern Illinois University from 1999 to 2002. In 1999, they also participated in the NCHC Grand Canyon semester at Northern Arizona University. From 2003 to 2006, Michelle pursued a Chemical Dependency Professional Licensure at Seattle Central College. Later, they attended City University of Seattle from 2009 to 2012, where they obtained a Master of Arts in Leadership Management (MAL). Additionally, Michelle acquired several certifications, including CPR/AED Adult and Standard First Aid from the American Red Cross in May 2019, as well as Domestic Violence Counselor from ALAMEDA COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER INC in June 2013. Michelle also holds a Pro Inspire Management Fellow certification, but the institution and the date of completion are unavailable.