By Tumay Aslay & Sydney Williams
One can’t help but be impressed by Michaela Ivri Mendelsohn. She is a transgender activist, public speaker and CEO of one of the largest franchisees for El Pollo Loco restaurant in the Western Region of the United States, Pollo West Corp. Additionally, she was a consultant to Jenji Kohan in the development of Laverne Cox's character, Sophia Burset, on the Netflix series Orange is the New Black. While Michaela is heavily involved as a successful business woman and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, her legacy’s shining star is founding TransCanWork. This nonprofit organization helps promote transgender employment opportunities in California and aims to grow to a national and international level in the future. Michaela Mendelsohn is certainly a Jill of all trades.
Michaela Mendelsohn. Trangender equal rights advocate, CEO Pollo West Corp, and Founder of TransCan Work.
Mendelsohn was born in New York City and moved to Southern California as a child. While studying at Cal State Northridge and on track to becoming an attorney, she decided to drop out of school to start her first business. After 30 years of marriage and with three grown children, Michaela transformed. Since then, she's vowed to continue to use her voice to help transgender women find employment, social acceptance, and a path to raise families of their own.
She shares some insights about life, LGBTQ+ activism, and what it takes to shine through as a successful transwoman in America.
How did you first become involved with LGBTQ plus activism?
My real experience with it was public speaking at an organization called GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating the Dialogue for Equality). I spoke for this organization for about four years, probably close to 250 to 300 times in that time period, mostly at schools and institutions near the city of Torrance, California.
I have to say that was probably my most enjoyable experience as an activist. The reaction that I got from the youth was so tangible. It made me realize I could have a real influence on people.
Moving forward, I made the decision to hire transgender employees in my restaurants. Hearing the story of Christie, our first transgender employee, and the horrible injustices that she had to suffer through in her former job made me realize the positive impact that I could make by hiring from the LGBQT+ community. So, I went on to hire over 50 more transgender employees in my restaurants over next few years. Giving some of those employees the chance to work at a workplace in their true identities for the first time felt just right and you know, it was the cultural shift that needed to happen. That’s when I started TransCanWork with the initial mission of creating a culture that could support and better understand the transgender community. This evolved into an organization that trained and placed them in the workforce.
How has your activism shaped your career?
It has completely changed my career as a businesswoman. I was working 60 hours a week for the first three years of my nonprofit career. It opened my eyes to the inequities. I saw and felt the pain that the LGBTQ+ community suffers at the hands of our society. I had an understanding of what change needed to happen from some of my personal experiences – how my own privilege also caused me to be part of that broken system my whole life.
I became successful while appearing to the world as a white privileged male presenting myself in a masculine role, which is why I can't fully take credit for being the successful businesswoman that I am today. It would be unfair for me to pretend that I understand what it's been like for women who had to make it in a “man's business world.”
After my transition, I realized my voice wasn't being heard the same way in board meetings as it was when I was a man. I would present an idea or make a comment in a meeting, with mostly men, and it would be glanced over and forgotten. Then when the same idea would be presented by a male colleague, it was profound. That’s when I realized what male privilege meant, as it knocked me off balance for a little while. I now feel like I can speak from a place of true confidence. If you don’t like it, I don’t give a damn.
Trans Can Work team: Sydney Rogers, West Hollywood Coordinator & Employment Navigator | Jovan Wolf ,Workforce Development Manager | Drïan Juarez, VP of Programs | Diego Bravo, Employment Navigator | JD Brown, Chief Operating Officer | Bowie Starr, Special Projects Manager
Tell us about your experience being a consultant in the character development of Sophia Burset (Laverne Cox) in Orange is the New Black.
I was contacted by the creator of the show, Jenji Kohan, and had the opportunity to share my personal experiences as a transgender woman to help them understand and create Sophia Burset’s character. For decades, cis people have been cast in trans roles. I advised them to cast a transgender actor to give our community the chance to tell our own unapologetic stories. At the end, Sophia Burset turned out to be one of the most iconic characters of the show, and I hope my contribution inspired part of this character’s success.
What’s next for Michaela Mendelsohn?
With three grown children and two little ones at home, a big part of my life is about my family which creates a big desire to step down from the chairpersonship of the board from TransCanWork at some point. That's why I am working on putting the pieces together for a succession plan. I'd still want to stay involved as the Founder, but create more time to spend with my family and focus on personal growth.
~ A message from Michaela ~
I just welcome people to reach out and learn more about TransCanWork. Our website is transcanwork.org. Please visit and find out more about us and how you can support us and the transgender community wherever you can. The more support we get, the more we can help. And that is what we are here to do. Thank you everyone!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.