Meet Mike Teichberg: Fundraiser & Human Resources | Poet, Philosopher, & Adventure Seeker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Teichberg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“You make a living from what you get, you make a life from what you give.” – Sir Winston Churchill This quote is one of my favorites of all time. It encapsulates my personal and career decisions and reflects the hard truth of what it’s going to take to get our global civilization out of the current pandemic situation. I was fortunate throughout my entire 20s that I had already met the love of my life in college. Having an equally dedicated, hard-working partner gave me the stability and focus on working very hard, exploring the world and myself. I rose through the ranks of my corporate Human Resources career, first in the non-profit sector, and then transitioning to venture-backed technology startups when I decided it was time to make more money and build the life I wanted for my wife and me. Always being out in the community, networking, and connecting people had been my favorite pastime, and it helped serve my recruitment efforts for my employers. I gave my everything – my time, dedication, etc. all for one particular mission-based company at a time. Seeing my talented friends become entrepreneurs and reflecting on the fact that my grandfather and father were both business owners, I realized that I was unfulfilled. It was time for me to go out on my own and offer my services to those who needed it most. It wasn’t until I began to work with family businesses, non-profits, and early-stage startups as a consultant that I could be my authentic self helping as many people as possible. Then almost two years ago, JNF-USA approached me to run their Miami-Dade fundraising campaign in support of Israel when my true calling arrived. Every day I use my skills and innovation to raise money for my Homeland and people. Through my work, I meet people of all faiths who share the same values, and they, too, are looking to add a grander purpose to their lives that their work, families, and other vastly meaningful endeavors do not provide. By partnering with me, I am building a community of like-minded, successful, passionate philanthropists making a difference and giving back. In Hebrew, we call this Tikkun Olam or repair the world. Now more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, we should be coming together as a community, locally, nationally, and globally to make a better world. This reset is an opportunity to look at systemic institutions and practices that make no sense for the average person or the environment. We need to all be good citizens. I have taken on an active role in my community, working with our building’s management and our town’s Mayor every step of the way since the pandemic broke, sharing insights from experts I encounter through my work. We can all do it. We must do it to get back to normal, and it starts with each of us in our local communities to think beyond just ourselves.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I launched InventivHR, a boutique Human Resources and Search firm, in 2018. No other firm is providing the services we offer at such a cost-effective price point. We provide support on outsourced HR projects such as employee handbooks, policy development, and training. We counsel C-level executives on employee relations issues and provide retained and contingency search services at placement fees lower than any other search firm on the market.

Finally, through a broker partner, we offer a free analysis of company payroll, benefits, insurance and policies to identify gaps and provide better coverage options with cost savings to both employees and employers. We rapidly grew to a successful business model that no longer requires my involvement in the day-to-day. By 2019, I joined the Jewish National Fund (JNF-USA) full time as the Director for Miami-Dade. Leveraging my expansive network, innovation, project management, and business development skills, I am now overseeing a $1M+ a year fundraising campaign.

My professional journey began thirteen years ago. After just four years, I feel blessed that I got hired for my first global head of HR role. I am even prouder of the fact that by the end of my corporate HR career, I turned down a VP-level role to go off and launch my own business. Success is always part talent, part timing, part hard work, and part luck. I was never afraid to speak up and approach strangers. Many people don’t like networking. I thrive on connecting with new people.

Everyone has a story, and I love matchmaking business opportunities, friends, and even romantic relationships! I think I have succeeded because I seek opportunities that I am passionate about, and I am always my authentic self. I treat everyone the same, whether they are ultra-high net worth individuals or working-class service workers. I find that authentic interactions many times disarm folks on either end of the socio-economic spectrum. I always try to use someone’s name if they have it on their nametag. Too many people have a work or a sales persona and adapt their personality like a chameleon. While that is necessary for certain unique situations, I try to carry myself as the respectful, jovial, and honest person that I am. If you are always yourself in work and your personal life, it allows you to tune into yourself, enabling you to constantly work on yourself. Openness is always appreciated by the people I meet because it allows them to do the same when perhaps they don’t have the opportunity to let their guard down with their other relationships.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the great joys since my wife and I moved down to Miami from Boston six years ago is that every year from November through April, we have been a revolving bed and breakfast hosting our family and friends. By now, I have several week-long itineraries that come together as we discover new venues and fun, unique activities to do. 15 of our Top Places to Eat in Miami (Currently Open) 1. Bunbury (Argentinian, Downtown Miami)
2. Cafe Prima Pasta (Italian, North Beach)
3. Bombay Darbar (Indian, Coconut Grove)
4. Bulla Gastrobar (Spanish, Miracle Mile Coral Gables)
5. Ricky Thai Bistro (Thai, North Miami)
6. The Alchemist (Cafe, Aventura)
7. Sergio’s (Cuban, Kendall)
8. Sushi Erika (Sushi, North Bay Village)
9. La Sandwicherie (Sandwiches/Salads; new North Beach location)
10. Doggi’s Arepa Bar (Venezuelan, MiMo)
11. Kush (Burgers, Wynwood)
12. Tacocraft (Taqueria & Tequila Bar, South Miami)
13. The Spillover (Seafood, Coconut Grove)
14. Sriracha House (Chinese, South Beach)
15. Cream Parlor (Ice Cream/Brunch, El Portal)

10 of our Top Places to Visit & Things To Do in South Florida (Currently Open)
1. Green Market Co-Op Farmer’s Market (Pinecrest Gardens)
2. Silverball Pinball Museum (Delray Beach)
3. Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens (Delray Beach)
4. Live music at Copper Blues (Doral)
5. Bike Trail at Shark Valley (The Everglades)
6. Airboat ride at Coopertown (The Everglades)
7. Deep-sea fishing at Kelly Fleet Services (Haulover Beach)
8. Kayaking at Oleta State Park (Golden Beach)
9. Self-Guided Tour at Vizcaya Gardens (Coral Gables)
10. Live music at Lagniappe (Midtown)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife, the unstoppable Rachel Teichberg, is an inspiration and an unsung hero. Her career as a consultant with Veterinary Growth Partners, the nation’s top animal hospital consulting firm based in Austin, TX, is only just beginning. She is an expert in emotional intelligence, workplace improvement, and conflict resolution training. She is a talented manager and public speaker who has spoken at national and international conferences. Rachel is a shining example for the lupus community, as someone who has her disease under control through diet and overall wellness. She represents the epitome of positive thinking by reframing the autoimmune disease as a superpower. While we all suffer from ailments, the average person doesn’t notice anything is wrong until it is too late and there is a need to treat symptoms. With lupus, it forces you to be more in-tune with your body, and you can learn to identify warning signs when stressors and other external factors are causing what will become a disruption or pain in certain parts of your body. While most of us run ourselves into the ground by overworking, overeating, and lacking sleep, she is leading the way in the ideal lifestyle that eventually can put her lupus into remission. I am beyond proud of her. She is my rock, and I have seen the benefits of her mantra as I look to apply it all in my life, so I proudly share her insights with the world.

Website: www.jnf.org
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mteichberg
Other: www.inventivhr.com