Strategic Advisor, AvalonAI
Managing Partner, MSQ Advisory
Michael Nikunen is the co-founder of MSQ Advisory, where he assists companies with their growth strategy and entry into the employer-provided benefit market. This includes crafting go-to-market strategies, processes, methodologies, and motivations employed by large and medium-sized employers, payers, engagement platforms, and professional services firms when designing, evaluating, and purchasing health benefits for employees, families, members, and clients.
Michael brings over forty years of experience with global consultancies, including Willis Towers Watson (WTW) and Mercer, as well as experience with the innovative health plan, Collective Health. His career spans working with organizations from the Fortune 1000 to budding startup companies across a diverse range of industries. At Mercer, Michael served as the managing partner for the Pacific Northwest region, overseeing operations in Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Salt Lake City, and Boise. At WTW, he was the Health and Welfare (H&W) practice lead for Seattle and previously led the H&W practice for Chicago and the Midwest region.
Throughout his career, Michael has developed a reputation for strategic rewards consulting and leading high-performing teams. He has successfully created and implemented strategies for reward programs designed to attract, retain, and engage the right workforce to achieve business goals. His ability to build strong, successful client relationships has been a cornerstone of his professional success.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in History and Political Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
At AvalonAI, Michael serves as a Strategic Advisor, leveraging his extensive experience and deep understanding of the employer benefits market to guide the company’s strategic initiatives and ensure their solutions align with market needs and trends.
