Global Keynote Speaker, Best-Selling Author, & Executive Coach
As an award-winning thought leader on mental well-being, sensitivity, and high-performance in the workplace, Melody helps organizations worldwide engage and empower their top performers.
Build your team’s psychological strength – and organizational influence
Keynotes packed with research-backed tactics to handle pressure, lead through uncertainty, and deliver results
SPEAKING CLIENTS INCLUDE
Your best people are getting in their own
way (and can’t get through to others).
They’re stuck in their heads, overthinking and second-guessing their decisions, and sidestepping tough conversations.
Even worse, they don’t know how to get inside others’ heads to:
- Motivate their teams and get genuine buy-in on ideas
- Negotiate competing priorities without burning bridges
- Offer effective feedback without sparking defensiveness
The result?
- Critical projects stall
- Top performers leave
- Conflicts fester
The future of work is human, but we can’t get there without understanding and leveraging how humans work.
That’s where I come in.
“Her ideas are literally life-changing.”
Melody offered brilliant insights, impactful exercises and cutting-edge research on how to build self awareness, tame self-sabotage, and cultivate resilience. Her style is so engaging and down-to-earth, yet her ideas are literally life-changing.
“Not only was Melody easy and fun to work with, our employees found SO MUCH value in their time with her.”
When you get notes from employees saying that they were literally moved to tears because of how well the content resonated, you know you're doing something special.
“Her practical strategies on building influence and communicating effectively with leadership deeply resonated with our audience.”
She provided specific scripts and strategies we could implement right away to be seen, heard, and taken more seriously. I'd highly recommend Melody for any organization looking to help their employees build stronger relationships up the chain of command while advancing their careers with confidence.
I’m
Melody.
Praised as a “world-class” speaker by Fortune 500 companies, I translate cutting-edge research into “I can use that today!” techniques audiences will immediately put into practice with their teams, clients, and colleagues.
My talks blend science, story, and a healthy dose of my real-world experience as a bestselling author, professor of human behavior, and coach to thousands of professionals worldwide.
In-Demand Topics
Become a strategic partner to those above you and turn your boss into your biggest champions.
Participants will learn to navigate power dynamics and build effective relationships with higher-ups that earn them more authority and freedom in the workplace.
Key takeaways:
- Decode your manager’s priorities and decision-making patterns to align your work with what actually moves the needle
- Present ideas so leaders don’t just listen — they champion your suggestions up the chain
- Turn tough feedback into constructive conversations that strengthen relationships instead of straining them
Success in today’s cross-functional, diverse workplace relies on your ability to collaborate with people who think, work, and communicate differently than you do. Participants will get practical scripts and tangible tactics to handle challenging dynamics, from managing relationships with demanding higher-ups to bridging communication gaps that slow progress down.
Are your people stuck in analysis paralysis, wasting precious time and resources pondering ideas instead of taking action? Indecision and fear of making mistakes limits your company’s growth. Participants will get concrete, science-based guidance to let go of overthinking so they can be calmer, happier, and more productive.
When 45% of managers admit they’re more upset than calm, and 43% are more frenetic than collected , it’s no wonder performance suffers.
This talk offers proven approaches to stay focused when stakes are high, lead through uncertainty, and create resilient teams that perform instead of panic.
“Our members are all left feeling inspired and empowered”
"The insight Melody shared around speaking up in the workplace was actionable — just as promised — and our members all left feeling inspired and empowered. The event had the highest attendance to date for our chapter, and the positive feedback keeps pouring in!"
“Melody's talk was excellent - engaging, well-structured and full of practical advice and resources that we can now use throughout the business.”
Melody was so easy to work with, professional and expert. I'd happily work with her again. Thank you Melody!
“Our Herman Miller designers were captivated by Melody's talk.”
Even better, they left with meaningful steps to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Melody's messaging and content is a valuable new resource in our tool kit of workplace advancement know-how.
What audiences say
Book Melody for
your event
Global Keynote Speaker, Best-Selling Author, & Executive Coach
As an award-winning thought leader on mental well-being, sensitivity, and high-performance in the workplace, Melody helps organizations worldwide engage and empower their top performers.
FEATURED IN:
Melody’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, NBC News, and dozens of other high-profile publications.
Recently named one of Business Insider’s “Most Innovative Coaches,” Melody’s client list includes hundreds of CEOs, executives, and top-performers at the world’s most successful companies, including Google, Facebook, IBM, Netflix, and more.
Her recent speaking engagements include Amazon, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Walmart, Conde Nast, Rutgers University, Adweek, and many other distinguished organizations.
Melody is a licensed social worker with a Masters degree from Columbia University, and a former researcher at Rutgers University. She teaches Human Behavior at Hunter College and is a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, and Business Insider.
Her best-selling book, Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions into Success at Work (Chronicle Books) debuted as a #1 New Release in multiple Amazon categories and was selected by Apple Books as a “Best Book of the Month” for May 2021.
Speaking
Empower your top performers to reach their full potential. Melody’s talks are known for perfectly blending stories, research, strategy, and inspiration. She arms audiences with new mindsets and practical skills they need to lead confidently, leverage their strengths, and thrive in today’s world of work.
Melody’s keynotes and workshops are based on her ten years of coaching high-performers at companies like Google and Amazon. Her talks feature the latest psychology, workplace, and leadership research and insights.
Melody’s sensitive strengths make her an empathetic presenter and skilled workshop facilitator who’s able to connect to audiences quickly and create an engaging experience that inspires them to action. Look no further for a communications speaker or management speaker for your next event.
Recent speaking engagements include:
- Amazon
- Stanford University
- Walmart
- Adweek
- Burberry
- Amgen
- McKinsey
- Rutgers University
- Conde Nast
- Herman Miller
- Quartz
- NYU
Melody Wilding Speaker Reel
Melody is a world-class speaker and author. She offered brilliant insights, impactful exercises and cutting edge research on how to build self awareness, tame self sabotage and cultivate resilience. Her style is so engaging and down-to-earth, yet her ideas are literally life-changing. I can't recommend her enough.
Brand Partnerships
Let’s collaborate to create custom campaigns that engage, inform, and inspire audiences to take action.
My content receives over 145,000 views each month, in addition to my columns for publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and Quartz.
My clients and readers are smart, sensitive high-achievers from around the world, including CEOs, executives, managers, and top-performers at the world’s most successful companies.
Partnerships I’m available for:
- Speaking engagements
- Media tours
- Webinars and classes
- Lunch-and-learns
- Media interviews
- Editorials
- Conferences
- Instagram takeovers
Partnerships I can offer:
- Co-hosted webinars
- Livestreams
- Guest articles
- Social media campaigns
- Email campaigns
- Consulting
RECENT ENGAGEMENTS:
Most Requested Talks
Below is a list of my most requested talks. This list isn’t exhaustive, so if you think I’d be a great fit to give a talk on a different topic, get in touch – I’d love to hear about it. Please note I always customize my talks to meet the interests of your audience and the goals of your event.
Trust Yourself: Sensitivity as a Superpower in the Workplace
What if you were neglecting the value of 20% of your workforce? A report by the World Economic Forum on the future of jobs states that by 2025, skills like critical thinking, problem solving, self-management, working with people, and communication will be the most in-demand. One often overlooked group employees disproportionately exemplifies these traits, and can be your superheroes in the workplace of today – and tomorrow. They are called Sensitive Strivers.
Based on Melody’s book, Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work, this keynote, presents a visionary approach to reframing sensitivity and achievement in the workplace.
Attendees will walk away with strategies to fully leverage the assets Sensitive Strivers have to offer in order to boost engagement, innovation, revenue and more.
Key Takeaways
- Identify Sensitive Strivers within your team or organization and their unique superpowers
- Clarify the ROI on sensitivity in the workplace in terms of business results and culture
- Discover strategies for thriving and gaining confidence as a Sensitive Striver
- Learn how to work with, manage, and lead Sensitive Strivers for better outcomes
What Clients Say
Melody’s insightful keynote attracted over 2,000 of our members. The topic and research she presented was very timely, and the discussion resonated deeply with our audience. We received highly positive feedback that our members found Melody’s keynote extremely helpful and productive. We can’t wait to have her back in the future!
Melody's insightful keynote attracted over 2,000 of our members. The topic and research she presented was very timely, and the discussion resonated deeply with our audience. We received highly positive feedback that our members found Melody's keynote extremely helpful and productive. We can't wait to have her back in the future!
Find Freedom From Imposter Syndrome
Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon where high-achievers think they’re inadequate and incapable. It causes smart professionals to doubt their competence, despite their accomplishments. Up to 50% of both men and women struggle with imposter syndrome weekly. Burnout, the most common consequence of imposter syndrome, costs the economy over $190 billion each year.
Attendees will walk away with greater confidence to take on new assignments and make a greater contribution in the workplace. They will also have tactics to apply to build a team culture that cultivates employee’s confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Identify the signs and behaviors of imposter syndrome in you or your staff
- Stay calm and composed in the face of stress instead of freezing under pressure
- Halt sabotaging thoughts in their path and build an empowering inner dialogue
- Apply techniques to lead others through imposter syndrome
What Clients Say
We felt lucky to have Melody speak about imposter syndrome. In her very interactive session, Melody connected with the audience and gave them a clear course of action to believe in their capabilities and make a bigger impact. Participants left feeling delighted, inspired, and confident.
We felt lucky to have Melody speak about imposter syndrome. In her very interactive session, Melody connected with the audience and gave them a clear course of action to believe in their capabilities and make a bigger impact. Participants left feeling delighted, inspired, and confident.
Saying No & Setting Boundaries at Work with Grace and Professionalism
Setting boundaries at work is more important – but harder to do – than ever before. Yet eighty-five percent of workers say their well-being has declined in the past year due in large part to rising workloads, according to Harvard Business Review.
Boost employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention rates by arming your team with skills and mindset they need to say no and set limits with grace and professionalism.
Key Takeaways
- Develop a growth mindset and overcome mental obstacles like fear and guilt that stand in the way of saying no
- Discover actionable strategies for pushing back respectfully and diplomatically
- Learn how to communicate boundaries to managers, leaders, and teammates and negotiate for your needs
- Cultivate greater focus and assertiveness to boost leadership capability
What Clients Say
Melody’s webinar How to Say No to Advance Your Career was one of the best I have seen. She used every inch of the hour to present clear, helpful information to our audience. We received terrific feedback. I highly recommend Melody to other organizations.
Melody’s webinar How to Say No to Advance Your Career was one of the best I have seen. She used every inch of the hour to present clear, helpful information to our audience. We received terrific feedback. I highly recommend Melody to other organizations.
Speak Up, Be Heard: How to be More Assertive at Work
Right now your best contributors may be holding back their brilliant ideas. Fear of conflict, people-pleasing, and perfectionism hold smart, successful professionals back from speaking up at work, even when they know they should.
Equip your top performers to make an impact through the skill of assertive communication. Attendees will discover how to get their voice heard and communicate with more personal power and presence. This is perfect for teams and professionals who want to improve their confidence and comfort level in common workplace scenarios like meetings, communicating with senior leaders, and giving feedback.
Key Takeaways
- Ways to project more executive presence
- Techniques to overcome mindset blocks holding high potential employees back from contributing
- How to advocate for yourself in the workplace and achieve more influence and visibility
- Tips to be a concise, powerful communicator in written and spoken communication
What Clients Say
The insight Melody shared around speaking in up the workplace was actionable just as promised, and our members all left feeling inspired and empowered. The event had the highest attendance to date for our chapter and the positive feedback keeps pouring in!
The insight Melody shared around speaking in up the workplace was actionable just as promised, and our members all left feeling inspired and empowered. The event had the highest attendance to date for our chapter and the positive feedback keeps pouring in!
All The Feels: Managing Emotions at Work to Beat Burnout & Perform Under Pressure
Today’s workers are under more stress than ever before. In fact, over 79 percent of professionals are experiencing symptoms of burnout according to the American Psychological Association. As a result, emotions are running high – even when teams are distributed.
Your employees may be wrestling with fear, worry, disappointment, frustration and more. And these negative emotions block them from performing at their best and contributing at the highest level. In this talk, workers will discover strategies to boost their emotional intelligence, self-management, and resilience.
Key Takeaways
- Increase emotional intelligence by understanding emotional reactions and their impact
- Practice techniques to stay calm and composed under pressure
- Navigate emotions to communicate clearly and respectfully in difficult conversations
- Making decisions in stressful situations
What Clients Say
Melody has a science-based approach to her work and an engaging, relatable way of speaking about it. Her tips are actionable and easy to follow. The insight she brings to the topic is memorable. Months later, colleagues are still talking about her visit.
Melody has a science-based approach to her work and an engaging, relatable way of speaking about it. Her tips are actionable and easy to follow. The insight she brings to the topic is memorable. Months later, colleagues are still talking about her visit.
How to Delegate Effectively
(Without Losing Control)
It’s no secret that today’s leaders are being asked to do more with less. Delegation is no longer just a “nice to have.” It’s an essential leadership skill that can enhance a leader’s credibility and well-being – and increase revenue by over 33%, according to Gallup.
Yet many high-achievers struggle to let go of tasks, which can stand in the way of their and their team’s success, costing your company wasted time and money. Here’s the secret: effective delegation starts on the inside. In this presentation, your leaders will discover how to manage their minds and communication to deliver results and operate as a high-performing and happy team.
Key Takeaways
- Overcome common obstacles to effective delegation
- Discover the key steps to effective delegation
- Gain commitment and motivate employees for the best outcomes
What Clients Say
Feedback from the group was so positive, everyone really felt like they got something meaningful and actionable out of the conversation.
Feedback from the group was so positive, everyone really felt like they got something meaningful and actionable out of the conversation.
Rise Above Burnout & Love Work Again
Your team is exhausted and overwhelmed. Maybe they aren’t fully checked out, but they’re not exactly thriving either. You want to help them find balance, but how? Over 76% of workers are experiencing burnout (source: The Harris Poll) and employers have a responsibility to arm their people with tools to make their maximum contribution without sacrificing their well-being.
Many burnout speakers offer empty platitudes, but this talk offers tangible strategies to help your teams reclaim agency in their careers and reignite a passion for their jobs. Drawing on human behavior research, attendees will walk away with insights and science-backed tools to quit burning the candle at both ends and achieve sustainable success.
Key Takeaways
- Identify what burnout is (and isn’t) and spot the surprising causes
- Empower attendees with skills to take control over their burnout triggers and recover from their impact
- Put in place a burnout prevention plan to build resilience and renew focus
What Clients Say
Melody gave our members invaluable guidance and tools to help them to get more out of their team, to communicate more constructively with their managers, and to advocate for themselves.
Overcome Overthinking: Quiet Your Inner Critic & Make Better Decisions, Faster
Are your people stuck in analysis paralysis, wasting precious time and resources pondering an idea versus taking action? Or perhaps they’re so self-critical and afraid of making mistakes that it’s limiting your company’s growth. Overthinking can be stressful for employees, teams, and leaders alike. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Get your people out of their own heads with tools and strategies to let go of overthinking so they can be calmer, happier, and more productive.
Key Takeaways
- Differentiate critical thinking from overthinking
- Increase optimism and sound judgment to solve problems for effectively
- Discover tools to make better, faster decisions with less hesitation
What Clients Say
Melody is a game changer! Her fireside chat turned into one of our highest attended offerings to date. Melody provided frameworks for our employees to be the best version of themselves, working through ambiguity, anxiety, and high expectations. The positive reviews keep coming in. I can’t recommend her enough!
Sensitivity in the workplace is often referred to in a negative context. We’ve been taught to hide our emotions for fear of being perceived as “unprofessional.” But the truth is that the traits associated with highly sensitive professionals —empathy, self-awareness, critical thinking, communication, and intuition — are the “human skills” that will be the most valuable in the workplace of the future.
In this keynote, I draw on decades of research and client work to examine the intersection of sensitivity and achievement in the workplace and offer neuroscience-based strategies that individuals, leaders, and organizations can use to recognize sensitivity as a superpower, not a detriment.
Based on my book, Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work, this keynote offers strategies those who work with and manage Sensitive Strivers can use to get the best out of them. I also offer steps Sensitive Strivers themselves can take to reach their full potential.
Key Takeaways:
- Identify if you or someone you work with is a Sensitive Striver
- Clarify how sensitivity shows up as both a strength and a weakness in leadership
- Three key skills for thriving as a sensitive leader and building a winning team
Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon where high-achievers think they’re inadequate and incapable. It causes smart professionals to doubt their competence, despite their accomplishments. Up to 50% of both men and women struggle with imposter syndrome weekly. Burnout, the most common consequence of imposter syndrome, costs over the economy over $190 billion each year.
This talk will equip leaders with a toolbox of six research-backed skills they can immediately put into action to address imposter syndrome in themselves and in their teams. Attendees will walk away with greater confidence to take on new assignments and make a greater contribution in the workplace. They will also have tactics to apply to build a team culture that cultivates employee’s confidence.
Key takeaways:
- Identify the signs and behaviors of imposter syndrome in you or your staff
- Stay calm and composed in the face of stress instead of freezing under pressure
- Halt sabotaging thoughts in their path and build an empowering inner dialogue
- Apply techniques to lead others through imposter syndrome
Boundaries at work are more important – but harder to achieve – than ever before. Eighty-five percent of workers say their well-being has declined in the past year due in part to the lack of separation between work and life, according to HBR.
That’s why this talk with arm your team with skills to set stronger workplace boundaries to improve workplace satisfaction, performance, and productivity. Attendees will walk away with an actionable framework, strategies, and action steps to set limits in the workplace in a diplomatic way. Special attention is given to common scenarios relevant to the virtual world.
Key Takeaways:
- Define what boundaries are and why they are crucial to improved workplace performance
- Identify the difference between types of boundaries
- Assess where they need stronger workplace boundaries
- Apply their knowledge to set and maintain more effective workplace boundaries
- Analyze real-world professional situations and increase their confidence and courage to set boundaries in these situations
Speaking up at work can be hard to do, even when you know you should. In this talk, leaders will learn how to assert themselves, get their voice heard, and communicate with more personal power and presence. This is perfect for teams and professionals who want to improve their confidence and comfort level in common workplace scenarios like meetings, communicating with senior leaders, and giving feedback. Special consideration is given to communicating powerfully in the virtual environment and remote workplace.
Key Takeaways:
- Ways to project more executive presence
- Techniques to overcome impostor syndrome that are holding you back from being effective
- How to advocate for yourself and be more visible
- Tips to be a concise, powerful communicator in written and spoken communication
Empower your top-performers to reach their full potential.
Book Melody and give your team practical skills to lead confidently, leverage their strengths, and make an impact.
Check Out Melody in Action
Melody’s keynote for the Alumni Learning Consortium attracted over 2,000 registrants. Watch the recording.
Melody speaking for Amazon’s Author Fishbowl, viewed over 21,000 times. Watch the recording.
Melody speaking about setting boundaries at work to Adobe employees.
Small group leadership workshop at Adweek.
Melody on ABC Affiliate, WJLA, discussing how to say no at work.
Melody speaks to the Lancaster Chamber’s Professional Women’s Forum about assertive communication.
Our Herman Miller designers were captivated by Melody's talk. Even better, they left with meaningful steps to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Melody's messaging and content is a valuable new resource in our tool kit of workplace advancement know-how.
Praise for Melody
“Shortly after Melody's time with us, I got quite a few emails expressing thanks. I also had at least 3 different people ask if she could come speak to our team on a regular basis!”
James Walter
Director, Staff Development & Communication, Breaking Ground
“Melody has a science-based approach to her work and an engaging, relatable way of speaking about it. Her tips are actionable and easy to follow. The insight she brings to the topic is memorable. Months later, colleagues are still talking about her visit.”
Heather Landy
Quartz
“Melody's talk was excellent - engaging, well-structured and full of practical advice and resources that we can now use throughout the business. Melody was so easy to work with, professional and expert. I'd happily work with her again.”
Hannah C.
Senior Director New Product Development, Abcam
“Melody was so knowledgeable and led an insightful, hands-on workshop that left the team feeling cathartic and more knowledgeable about themselves, too.”
Ko Im
ADWEEK
“Melody's workshops were insightful and provided effective strategies that those attending could follow. She engaged with the audience effectively despite it being a hybrid session. We have heard all positive feedback from her sessions. Melody is amazing and I highly recommend her to international audiences as well!”
Annette Vincent
Associate Dean for Diversity & Climate, Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
“Melody's event had the highest attendance to date for our chapter and the positive feedback keeps pouring in!”
Emily Rassam
Women In Pensions Network
"Melody is a terrific speaker. Her talk was inspiring and thought-provoking, and was received with glowing enthusiasm by our audience of highly accomplished, professional women."
Maria Frantzis
Founder of Hellenic Professional Women
“Melody is a game changer! Her fireside chat turned into one of our highest attended offerings to date. Melody provided frameworks for our employees to be the best version of themselves, working through ambiguity, anxiety, and high expectations. The positive reviews keep coming in. I can't recommend her enough!”
John McCarty
“We felt lucky to have Melody speak about imposter syndrome. In her very interactive session, Melody connected with the audience and gave them a clear course of action to believe in their capabilities and make a bigger impact. Participants left feeling delighted, inspired, and confident.”
Mary Pharris
Fairygodboss
“Melody gave our members invaluable guidance and tools to help them to get more out of their team, to communicate more constructively with their managers, and to advocate for themselves."
Lucy Colback
Editorial Director, Women in Business Asia Forum
“Not only was Melody easy and fun to work with, our employees found SO MUCH value in their time with her. When employees say they were literally moved to tears because of how well the content resonated, you know you're doing something special.”
Will Mahon
Senior Training Manager, Index Exchange
“Feedback from the group was so positive, everyone really felt like they got something meaningful and actionable out of the conversation.”
Stephanie Rosenthal
Inturn
“Melody's talks are always a total hit with our members. The practical, concrete tools she provides give our community strategies to implement at their workplaces right away. Melody is a true pro who is also warm and thoughtful.”
Allison Medina
Tech Ladies
“Melody engaged our alumni with a dynamic discussion on how to create confidence, manage imposter syndrome, and set oneself up for success in the workplace. The audience was actively involved and provided positive feedback about how helpful it was both personally and professionally.”
Colin von Liebtag
Associate Director for Alumni Career Engagement, Rutgers University
"Melody was fantastic to work with. We were pleased with our virtual turnout, even more so with the number of leaders who expressed interest in relaying this content to their teams afterward. We could not have been more pleased with the end result. Melody definitely delivers!"
Lisa Zirk
Manager of Communication Strategy & Events, Discover Financial Services
Melody is extensively knowledgeable and presents in a high-value, high-caliber way that balances expertise and relatability. Her insight was actionable and our members left feeling inspired and empowered. The event was our highest attendance to date. The positive feedback keeps pouring in!
FEATURED IN:
TV & Media
Looking to interview a psychology and workplace expert for print or online media, television, or a podcast? With ten years of experience as an executive and leadership coach, Melody’s media appearances will fascinate your audience and generates clicks and shares.
If you’re in need of a sought-after expert source who knows how to cut to the heart of the matter while delivering timely, relatable, and actionable advice (on a tight deadline!), you’ve come to the right place.
Topics Melody can discuss on interviews:
- Imposter syndrome
- Burnout
- Emotions at work
- Workplace stress
- Work boundaries
- Managing up
- Communication
- Sensitivity
- Women's leadership
- Positive psychology
- Career development
- Goal setting
- Work life balance
- Mindfulness
- Productivity
- Perfectionism
Get in touch
Fill out the form below and Melody or her team will be in touch within one business day. Speaking inquires can also be directed to Blair Nichols of BBN Management at bbn@bbncreativemanagement.com.
