Melissa Segal

Melissa is an engaging and interactive trainer, facilitator, and speaker who is committed to helping people transform workplaces to foster success for all. She facilitates professional development, coaches leaders and managers, implements culture and well-being programs, and works with teams to improve communication and group dynamics and thus increase productivity and group functioning.

Melissa’s genuine connection, compassionate personality, and thoughtful honesty are her secret sauce. She helps individuals and teams cultivate their skills in leadership, mentoring, teamwork, psychological safety, empathy, well-being, communication, and employee empowerment. She teaches attendees how to engage successfully in challenging conversations, build productive and effective teams, support team members, listen to understand, foster inclusion and equity, and retain employees.

As an army brat, Melissa quickly learned how to join new groups and create welcoming spaces for all. Her early experiences led her to launch a career in social work, during which she focused on women’s health, family systems, and interpersonal relationships. Since then, she has led teams in a variety of settings, establishing new programs, training leaders and front-line professionals, creating and implementing strategic plans, and managing daily operations and human resources. Among other roles, she has served as Executive Director, Senior Business Manager, and Senior Director of Culture & Well-being. This direct front-line and leadership experience strengthens her ability to understand people’s daily experiences and challenges—and to help them learn how to transform their behavior and their culture.

Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts from Duke and her Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.

Feedback:

• “I am so grateful for [her.] The work, the partnership… [She] changed my life.”
• Melissa’s training was "one of the most helpful and relevant trainings I’ve had in my 13 years at this institution...I think it could create a significant culture shift/increased awareness if EVERYONE was required to go through it."
• “We're seeing her training seep into everything we're doing.”
• “This was the best-facilitated conversation on race I’ve had at [this institution]… I would love to see this basic session multiplied throughout the community.”

Experience:

• Over 25 years providing professional development and training for staff,      faculty, trainees, and volunteers
• Over 25 years supervising professional staff and managing administrative      functions
• Over 15 years working in community non-profits
• Over 12 years working in academia with faculty, staff, students and postdocs