Author Bio

Meet Michael Anthony Deffina

Michael Anthony Deffina is an accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, and author dedicated to empowering the next generation to approach life and career decisions with greater intention and clarity.

His own path was shaped by real-world experience rather than a predetermined plan. After high school, Michael joined the U.S. Navy, where he trained as an electronics technician and rose to the rank of E-5 non-commissioned officer. He then transitioned into advanced technology roles at General Dynamics and IBM—contributing to the guidance system for the Apollo IV mission—while completing his college education in the evenings through dedicated part-time study.

Recognizing his natural strengths in leadership and communication, Michael shifted into sales and corporate leadership. He earned a spot in IBM’s Golden Circle (top 5% of the national sales force) and later served as Senior Vice President of Sales for HQ–Headquarters Companies, a pioneering flexible workspace provider that experienced rapid growth before its acquisition by United Technologies.

Michael went on to co-found Ellie Mae, a groundbreaking mortgage technology company. Under his leadership, Ellie Mae became a publicly traded company on the NYSE and was ultimately acquired by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) for approximately $11 billion. Today, the technology he helped build continues to power a significant portion of U.S. residential mortgage applications.

Through his book So What Comes Next?—and related initiatives—Michael draws on decades of hard-earned success to guide teens and families away from "planning by circumstance" and toward intentional "planning by design." As a practitioner rather than just an educator, he believes every young person deserves a clear, actionable roadmap for their future.