
TESTIMONIALS
How about some feedback? With an abundance mindset, every comment provides insight into what worked and what to upgrade. Here’s a sample of what people are saying. (I’m pretty pleased so far.)
Cirque du Sophia
What a special and life-changing experience to be with Melissa and Lisë and the dynamic Cirque ladies. Our time together has forever
Cirque du Sophia is a unique opportunity to come together with other business women that have similar challenges and experiences. We begin our time together at one level of niceties and exchange and very quickly move into a deeper level of sharing and bonding that is not common in our everyday business lives. The group, as a whole, develops a powerful persona of its own due to the synergy of the individuals. Together we experience, share and learn more about ourselves as leaders and women in the professional world. We draw on the experiences and perspectives of each woman and offer support and constructive feedback in a loving way. We arrive as strangers but leave as friends and are forever impacted by what we shared together. Cirque du Sophia has been very instrumental in helping me on my journey over the past few years in striving to become the best leader I can be. It is a continual journey and I look forward to future Cirque du Sophia experiences. Lisë and Melissa are amazing together and I love that they share themselves with the group and are one of us, while still facilitating the discussions and leading us on a journey of discovery each time. — Sheila Harvey, CEO, A+ Corporation, LLC
More…
Create Ripples
A heartfelt “thank you” for another inspiring and fulfilling Create Ripples experience, for sharing your life with me, and for introducing
I believe as facilitators Melissa and Christiane did a fantastic job designing a program that focused on our goals and working on mapping out a journey in order achieve our goals. For me it was perfect. — Vania Broderick-Dursun, Independent Consultant
Create Ripples offered me an ideal setting to park personal and professional demands to learn about my own leadership style through a full, uninterrupted three-day engagement in different activities and conversations with six amazing women. Building on the transformational aspects of sharing personal experiences and challenges, the facilitators guided our group through a powerful journey, full of unexpected moments of joy, pain and caring…resulting in the recognition that it was the journey. For me, the image of Ripples evoked the tension, grace and fluidity of women, together, reaffirming, reimagining and redefining their personal and professional leadership styles. — Andree Wyncoop, President/CEO Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund
Executive Strategy Coaching
I can report that after our other conversation yesterday, I would have felt downright giddy with excitement if it hadn’t been for
You helped me to change my life completely. Melissa, truly – I have the most incredible life. I love my work, I love my husband and family. I am exactly where I am supposed to be and it is in large part to you! So thank you so much. — Owner, marketing firm
I cannot thank you enough or express in words how valuable the past coaching sessions have made a difference in both my personal life and my professional world. — President, precision machining company
After our time together, this is by far my biggest take away ~ for me to stop acting and start living and feeling truly, even if it’s different than the norm. I thank you for your guidance and wisdom. — President, insurance company
Our call has come back to me in so many ways, so many times. I was just reviewing my notes again grasping some of the nuggets of perspective that you gave me and I captured in my writing. It meant so much to me. I have been marinating on so much this weekend and continue to develop what my thoughts about going forward will be. — Executive Director, women’s business funding non-profit
I just want to report that we had our All Hands Meeting today and we did a pretty good job! I don’t want to start a mutual congratulation group, but we used a lot of the wording that we developed yesterday; couched our introductions on the bigger framework of supporting the company and each other; and discussed each new person’s expertise and linked that to additional changes and discovery and growth as we all work forward together. — Managing Partner, professional services firm
Facilitation
Thank you for all of the work that you did leading up to and at the Convening. As I knew you would, you did a fantastic job in earning people’s trust
Melissa has reinvented strategic planning. She helps you envision your future in a way that’s fun and engaging, and that really works. With her guidance, our strategic planning process has uniquely prepared us to take advantage of market and technology changes that have come along. The impact on this organization is powerful and enduring. We think and act strategically, which is a sea change she was instrumental in creating. — Donald K. Boswell, President & CEO, Western New York Public Broadcasting
Melissa – It is very clear that your God-given gifts have played a major role in getting us to this point. This has been quite a year and your role in it is helping all of us maintain our confidence and our courage. — Sr. Margaret Carney, President Saint Bonaventure University
Melissa collaborated with my family to conduct a great family retreat. She taught us lots of great communication skills and we had lots of fun in the process. Her expert knowledge and fun approach to sharing her knowledge make learning lots of fun. — Keith Mayeaux, Founder, Next Generation Family Advisors
Melissa – no matter the ultimate outcome, we couldn’t have gotten this far without your skilled facilitation. Thank you for making a significant difference in this work. — Cynthia Zane EdD, President, Hilbert College
Mentor Coaching and Coach Training
What I appreciated about Melissa as my mentor coach, in addition to how she modeled effective coaching presence and
Melissa, thank you. You have been so instrumental in my growth and development. Thank you so much for walking alongside as I grew. – Rima Shaffer, Gestalt Professional Certified Coach
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you impact the lives of the coaches entrusted to your care. I often think of those moments we shared with such fondness and know that you have played a major role in my coaching ability. The practicums are more significant to me now as I reach back in my memory of all you taught and equipped me to be. — Joan Nosal, PCC, GPCC, T.R.I. Life Coaching
My ACC application is being processed by ICF and my focus has shifted to developing solid PCC level skills. Your mini-mentor coaching gave me examples of ways to establish a more in-depth contract at the beginning of a coaching session and assist the client in evaluating whether the goals were met that would be so much more authentic for me than others I have heard described and have tried. I’m looking forward to experimenting more in these areas when I work with clients this week and to discussing my new awarenesses with my supervisor next week. Thank you! — Rev. Dr. Janice Lee Fitzgerald, Leadership and Ministry Coach
Thank you for your tireless commitment to developing us as coaches! – Patricia Bright, Bright Consulting LLC
Thank you for the heart, soul, and passion you gave to the coaching program. My understanding of Gestalt Coaching, and (inadvertently) facilitation and teaching grew to new depths, thanks to you. I am ever grateful that this program brought us together. — Elizabeth Roll, GPCC, PCC, Sandia Corporation
Besides being an expert in her field with a wealth of wisdom to share, Melissa’s energetic and powerful presence held her audience captive and interested. I highly recommend Melissa to any organization or company who is looking for an outstanding program that adds tremendous value for each participant – both on a personal as well as professional level. — Cornelia Wegener, Ph.D., ICF-GA Conference Committee
What a pleasure it was to ‘experience’ your presentation at our ICF Cleveland meeting! We so appreciated the generosity of your time, and value of the ‘pearls’ for coaching that you gave to us all. As noted in the evaluations, your efforts were highly lauded. It is clear that the audience especially enjoyed your presentation style, and it is always a great sign that many were able to record a solid take-a-way…Again thank you so very much! – Ann Fitzgerald, Program Co-Chair
I so enjoyed working with you in the coaching program and still think about and use many of the things you taught us! — Christina M. Royer, ACC, GPCC, Christina M. Royer, Ltd., Attorney at Law