Mar 6, 2018
In 2006, Michelle DiFebo Freeman was a stay-at-home mom of three. As the wife of a prominent real estate development executive in the Washington DC area, her life was pretty close to perfect. All that changed when her husband, Joshua, was killed in a helicopter crash. Several people suggested she sell her husband’s large firm and that she "go home." Instead, the high school graduate rolled up her sleeves and learned the business—ultimately taking over as CEO three years later. Michelle shares the story of how she rose to the challenge, took on all the doubters, and, as a woman in a male-dominated industry, led the Carl M. Freeman Companies into a new era. She also shares how she coped when tragedy struck again, killing the man she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with—in yet another tragic accident. It was a darker, downward spiral this time and Michelle even harbored thoughts of suicide. She ultimately healed through service—simple acts of helping others—the topic of her riveting 2017 Tedx talk.