Melanie is a sought after high-content high-impact motivational speaker, experiential group facilitator, entrepreneur and founder of Powerful Transformations, a human potential business. Her corporate, organization and individual programs take a “whole person” approach to actualizing potential, maximizing productivity, and promoting peace.
Her empowering “life-affirming” custom interactive keynotes, workshops, training, experiential programs and break out sessions have been facilitated and taught to thousands of leaders, employees and personal & professional development seekers at Sony Playstation, Kaiser Permanente, California Highway Patrol, CalSTRS, George Washington University Law School, Scripps College, Antonyan & Miranda Law Firm, San Diego Bar Association, Toastmasters International and many others. She has also reached a global audience of 25k+ online through transformational self-realization and peak performance videos.
Melanie has over 20 years of business and senior executive management experience from the staffing, recruiting and workforce Industry. She taught organizational development, change management, leadership and negotiations at the university level for seven years. She holds a Masters of Law in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, a Juris Doctorate, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She is a court-trained Mediator and holds professional certifications in Advanced Group Facilitation, Distinguished Leadership and Public Speaking as well as integrative certifications in energy maximization utilizing Reiki and Chakra Therapy.
She has given a SUE Talk (A TED style talk featuring Successful, Unstoppable, Empowered Women of Influence), created Permission To Be Powerful Women’s Empowerment card deck and written leading articles on managing change, authentic leadership and results-oriented individual and organizational transformation for the Legal Times and Legal Intelligencer. She has been featured in Toastmasters International Magazine sharing how the psychology of human needs establishes a strong foundation that builds community, creates synergy in groups and attracts members, clients & sales. She has also written on best practices for facilitating “engaging & productive” meetings, creating “positively contagious & life-catalyzing” moments and experiences, as well as the significance and impact of “mastering and leveraging” personal energy, power, potential and mindset.
Some of her most cherished contributions come when her soul deeply calls her to serve those in need. She has provided pro bono counseling and court representation of domestic violence survivors, mediated complex highly sensitive child safety and protection cases, cooked in soup kitchens and fed the homeless on the holidays, founded and led a risk reduction neighborhood watch, facilitated programs for a “keep them off the street” drop-in youth resource center, and many other heart-fulfilling volunteer efforts.
Melanie lives in San Diego, California, and is known for sharing her energetic presence, inspirational stories, soul-driven authenticity, and ignited passion with her audiences. She enjoys exploring spirituality, writing, traveling, improv, dark chocolate and performing arts.
