“Melissa was engaged to conduct a talent and culture review for a medium-sized (< 50 people) global non-profit. She worked with leadership to develop a project approach, led the review process using a number of engagement techniques including surveys, focus group discussions, and 1:1 interviews, and analyzed the findings for leadership consideration. At the end of the project, she facilitated a Board-level workshop to develop recommendations for how to evolve the NPO’s talent and culture strategy.
One of Melissa’s key strengths for this project was her ability to quickly take the pulse of the organization and adapt an approach that was appropriate to how the team had previously operated while respecting the mood of the team. In a matter of weeks, she emerged as a trusted advisor to NPO leadership on how to handle individual and group dynamics. Her insights into how to engage the Board were particularly helpful as we sought to bring the Board more directly into the conversation about how talent and culture strategy affect the future of the NPO.”
— Global Non-Profit Board Member
“Melissa provided thought-leadership on creating an HRBP Academy to support recent changes to our HR Operating Model and to build critical skills and capabilities for our global HRBP and People Partner community to be successful. Her solution is scalable and sustainable and delivered the perfect balance of theory and the practical application of that theory to everyday business challenges and opportunities for our HRBPs & People Partners.
Melissa was professional, engaging and a pleasure to work with. Her strengths in strategic thinking, HR best practice, matched with her disciplined execution, were clearly on display throughout. Her legacy will continue here at ServiceNow as we leverage her framework and approach to our new HRBP & People Partner hires going forward.”
— Service Now HR Leadership
“Melissa’s leadership training program was a great way to gain better insight into how other people think and get their perspectives better. She provided practical advice that we could apply in our roles as leaders, such as how to manage difficult conversations, drive effective team collaboration and communication, and navigate organizational change.
By the end of the program, I felt like I had a deeper understanding of how to approach different situations as a leader, and ways to help my team grow in their own leadership roles.
The training program was a great investment of time and resources, and I highly recommend Melissa’s leadership training program for anyone looking to develop their skills as a leader. Our team experienced the following shifts:
1) They have used the same approach they observed during the sessions - a more coaching style. 2) They started to ask themselves more questions about what they are trying to achieve and what leadership style they followed in the moment and for all conversations. 3) They started empowering their teams to resolve things they did not delegate before the training.”
“Melissa Carson has been an invaluable resource for me and for our team. We are a small nonprofit with a tiny but dedicated staff, and the pandemic has made evident a number of challenges we face in trying to become the strongest organization we can be (and it has presented new ones as well, of course).
Melissa has helped me think through how our team can evolve and improve, has helped me adapt our policies and practices as situations have changed, and, importantly, has helped me be a stronger leader so as to ensure that the team is functioning together.
She is a strategist, a coach, and a thought partner to me as executive director, a position in which the difficulties are usually lonely ones. I am so glad to be able to work with her!”
— Carin Berkowitz, Executive Director, New Jersey Council for the Humanities
“I have worked with Melissa over the past 5+ years in multiple capacities. She has served as a colleague, consultant, advisor, and coach. In each capacity, Melissa provided immeasurable value via thoughtful and insightful advice and guidance. She has assisted me designing numerous programs to encourage employee growth and development while at the same time stepping up as an executive coach and advisor on more strategic matters.”
— Anthony Conte, CFO, COO
From Individual Leaders
“Working with Melissa on an ongoing basis gave me an opportunity to focus on myself and my goals and aspirations, something I have not done before in a structured manner. With Melissa’s help, I became a better leader, increased my productivity, improved my confidence, and found new original ways of solving people-related challenges. Melissa brings patience, curiosity in humans, and focus to inspire her clients to be their best selves, which I truly value in a coaching partnership.
I continue to enthusiastically recommend Melissa to my network, both personal and professional.”
— Senior Leader, tech
“Melissa’s coaching has been very helpful in guiding me to establish my brand and to articulate my unique value proposition to leadership.”
— Digital Engagement Leader
“Through working with Melissa I learned how to discover ‘my best self’ for my high performing team. She helped me understand what I was doing for me vs. what I could be doing to become the best version of what our team could be.”
— Senior Business Leader
“I have found your services as a career coach far surpassed my expectations. Your thoughtful guidance helped me learn so much about my abilities and gain a better understanding of my next career steps.
I only wish I’d come to see you years ago.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and overall positive and energetic attitude.”
