Melissa S.
5.0
Studied at Vanderbilt University
Works at Together We
Available January 6 at 6:30 PM UTC
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
About Melissa
Hi! I’m Melissa - an ICF certified coach, facilitator, and former talent development executive. I started my career in engineering and product roles, but spent most of the past 20+ years working in Talent Development at large multinational companies. My work has ranged from new employee recruitment and success to developing and facilitating programs for the company’s top leadership. I’ve worked in global roles the majority of my career, with the highlight being getting to live and work in Asia for 2 years. As a Coach & Co-Founder of Together We, my work today is focused on helping people at transition points feel less alone and more confident. I’m based in Seattle, Washington and have worked with clients from across the globe on both professional and personal goals. My clients include senior executives at both large corporations and start-ups, new front-line managers, technical leaders, parents returning to work from parental leave, and friends who are exploring career options, to name a few. I also have extensive experience developing and facilitating workshops aimed at building both skills and confidence in a range of topics including leadership, career development, and change management. When I’m not coaching, you can find me watching a movie or show with my family, driving my teenage kids to a theater rehearsal or sports practice, taking a walk with my husband and dog, going for coffee or wine with friends, doing some sort of at-home exercise program, or reading a book and quietly recharging.
Why do I coach?
Early in my life and career, many of my decisions were externally motivated - I should study engineering because there are a lot of job options after school. I should climb the management ladder because that’s just what you do. I should take on yet another major project even though I’m already stretched thin. Etc. Etc. Like many people, I was “shoulding” all over myself and was often left feeling somewhat empty even when things were seemingly going well. I’m grateful that over time and through wonderful mentors and colleagues, I have learned that there is a better way - where we can align our goals, daily actions, and mindset around our values instead of around what we think we “should” do based on external pressures. Through coaching, I love that I get to help others find realistic and practical ways to do this for themselves. I bring an optimistic, problem-solving approach to my coaching - knowing that every challenge has a number of possible solutions. (I think this is my prior engineering background coming out!) My clients have shared that this approach provides them with a sense of calm, and helps to expand their thinking on possible ideas and ways forward. The opportunity to help someone articulate and achieve their goals, whether personal or professional, and live a more full life is what makes this work so fun and interesting to me.
Work Experience
Coach & Co-Founder
Together We
January 2024 - Present
Together We help people at transition points feel less alone and more confident. Through coaching and training, we provide practical tools and techniques - alongside encouraging a supportive community - to help people navigate change while staying true to their personal values. Whether it’s new parents learning how to find balance in their lives, first-time managers figuring out how to get the best from their teams, or individuals wanting to examine their career options, we believe that we have a better chance of succeeding together. We have a range of coaching approaches and workshops to suit your needs, whether you’re looking for yourself or on behalf of a business. We can also offer talent development consulting services to help you refine your organization’s approach to helping people learn and grow.
Director of Talent Development
Groupon
September 2021 - January 2023
Hiring Manager
Led a team responsible for all global talent development at Groupon including leadership development, coaching programs, employee engagement, change management capability, performance management, talent review, and succession planning.
Executive Coach
Groupon
December 2019 - January 2023
Operated as an internal executive coach, coaching 80+ people both individually and in groups.
Senior Talent Development Partner
Groupon
September 2018 - September 2021
Partnered with Engineering and Product senior leaders to consult on their organization's Talent Development needs. Facilitated and developed workshops on leadership development, team effectiveness, change management, and career development
Senior Manager, Global Learning & Development
National Instruments
July 2016 - August 2018
Hiring Manager
• Consult with business leaders to analyze business challenges and capability gaps and develop organizational strategies and learning solutions to address those gaps • Manage and develop a global team of senior L&D Business Partners, with specific focus in the areas of relationship building, performance consulting, and learning strategy development • Co-led the formation of new global L&D organization for the company, driving efforts such as organizational design, defining roles and responsibilities, developing measurement strategies, and driving change at the individual and organizational level • Support the development of managers and leaders via both 1:1 coaching and facilitation of targeted courses and workshops
Talent Development, Global Marketing
National Instruments
March 2013 - July 2016
• Work across all aspects of the talent management life-cycle, including recruiting, workforce planning, performance management, learning programs, and career development • Led the organizational design and change management aspects for international marketing teams during a significant transformation of the global marketing organization • Worked with senior leadership across all functional areas of our global business units to define and implement how employees are managed and collaborate together as the company transitioned to a matrix-based operating model • Worked on a cross-functional team to design and roll-out an integrated Talent Management process and system company-wide. Led the strategy, design, and implementation of learning solutions to support the process • Located in Penang, Malaysia for 2 years, working directly with executives, managers, and employees throughout Asia
Leader of Talent Acquisition
National Instruments
November 2010 - March 2013
Hiring Manager
• Managed the company’s talent acquisition efforts, with a primary focus on university recruiting, achieving college hiring targets throughout tenure and hiring 400+ engineers from over 40 leading universities • Directed a team of 175+ university recruiters, setting school targets, fostering collaboration across groups, coaching and mentoring recruiters, and ensuring regulatory compliance • Worked with senior management to define long-term hiring strategies, set annual hiring targets, and prioritize needed skill sets and degrees - using both historical data and projecting future talent needs • Fostered early engagement with top students through industry leading internship program and targeted activities at strategic universities • Responsible for company-wide affirmative action plan, OFCCP compliance, and diversity initiatives • Reported to the VP of HR and directly managed a team of 4
Learning & Development Manager, Engineering Leadership Program
National Instruments
August 2007 - November 2012
Hiring Manager
• Directed learning and development strategy and execution for 125 person Applications Engineering department • Managed all new hire engineers and a team of administrative staff • Deployed an annual, global training conference for over 200 Applications Engineering employees, providing live training and eLearning formats
Vanderbilt University Recruiting Leader
National Instruments
September 2004 - August 2010
• Responsible for all recruiting and candidate outreach efforts at Vanderbilt University • Built and managed a team of recruiters to represent the company at recruiting events and throughout the school year
HR Business Partner, Engineering
National Instruments
June 2006 - August 2007
• Partnered with executive leadership across the Engineering organization, providing support to 500+ engineers • Provided consultation and/or direct execution of key HR areas, including FMLA, benefits, compensation, exit interviews, relocation, job descriptions and recruiting, and work authorizations (H-1B and other visas, permanent resident process, etc.) • Completed PHR Certification Course at the University of Texas
Product Manager, Software Services
National Instruments
June 2004 - June 2006
• Developed and executed strategies to grow $40M+ software services product lines • Supported and trained global sales force • Exceeded growth goals by 30% in first year of product ownership • Recipient of Product Marketing Rookie of the Year (2004) and Excellence in Business and Product Management (2005) awards
Manager, Engineering Leadership Program
National Instruments
August 2002 - August 2004
Hiring Manager
• Managed a group of 25 Applications Engineers • Prepared and delivered bi-annual performance reviews • Coordinated and managed summer intern program with 20 interns
Applications Engineer
National Instruments
August 2001 - August 2002
• Delivered quality technical support to customers, surpassing department customer satisfaction goals of 85% • Taught technical courses to customers
Education
Vanderbilt University
B.E., Biomedical Engineering
1997 - 2001
Grade: Cum Laude Activities and societies: Ingram Scholar, Kids & Computers Co-Founder, Engineering Council Treasurer, Kappa Delta Secretary
5 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Melissa has helped clients get into these companies: