About - Speak in Flow

I envision a world where more leaders share their ideas freely, respect each other’s mission, and use their voice to create more influence and positive change in the world.

The freedom to speak  is a gift

The first thing to know about me is that. . . .

I’ve always been fascinated by the unseen forces in ourselves and the world around us:

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Our ability to transform and evolve into a higher version of ourselves.

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How capable we are of so much more than we think.

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How life is so full of abundance and opportunities when we open our eyes and hearts to it.

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The knowingness that we are truly in the right place at the right time, all the time.

AND I’VE BEEN TESTED ON THESE BELIEFS MANY TIMES OVER THROUGHOUT MY LIFE

I was born and raised in an ancestry of women who had no voice.

My grandmother was the 4th wife to her husband. When she was 20 years old, she was sold into a marriage to a man 35 years her senior. Not only did my grandmother listen to her husband, she also had to listen to 3 other wives.

My mother raised 4 children and managed 2 restaurants, and never spoke up. Even when she got yelled at by family members and employees who worked for her, she still did not speak up.

Growing up, I remember constantly doubting myself. I was not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not smart enough, not confident enough. I wanted so badly to be loved and admired, and it felt like a big mountain I needed to climb, only to not get anywhere.

I learned to be agreeable and do as others said.

When I went to work in corporate, I carried all of that conditioning into my work. Disconnected from my body and my instincts, I would freeze and overthink what I wanted to say. Whenever it was time for me to speak up, I would clam up and stumble on my words.

One day, early in my career, my manager asked me to speak in front of 30 members of the company’s upper management.

I instantly felt sick to my stomach and my mind started racing.

“I can’t do this.”
“I’m gonna mess up.”
“I’ve messed up before and it was awful.”
“I’m gonna forget what I want to say.”
“It will be so embarrassing.”

I remember working hard to cover up that feeling. I needed to look confident and strong. Otherwise, what would people think of me?

Despite all of the anxiety and terror, I knew deep down inside I had to say, “YES” to something bigger.

I knew that, in order for me to become a successful leader, I had to overcome my fears of public speaking. So I took one brave step forward and spoke in front of a crowd of 30 people that day.

That talk was the beginning of a long road to wholeness, back to myself.

Over the course of the next 20 years, through mentors, training, and a faith-based practice, I healed my childhood traumas, freed my mind and spirit from negative thoughts and became more present with the opportunities around me. The inner critic and self-doubt slowly subsided and gave birth to a new ME, one who spoke with confidence, was connected to her intuition, and present with herself and her audience.

Through the trials and tribulations of my own transformation, I started my coaching business and created my Speak In Flow® signature system, a process I now use to help entrepreneurs and leaders overcome their fears and learn to speak more confidently and powerfully, in record time.

My mother died a few years ago – ironically – of cancer in the mouth. Because my mother never found her voice, my mission is to speak in honor of her and all the women before her.

And in that process, set an example for my daughter and all young women out there who need a strong feminine role model.

I am committed to helping women find their voice, and empowering leaders to change the world through collaboration and open communication. It’s an honor to help others embody their power and full self-expression.

HEART + INTUITION + COMMUNICATION → INFLUENCE

There are many ways to manifest authority, abundance and influence. What I stand for and love doing is empowering others to get in touch with their heart, tune into their intuition, and communicate their truth.

“I’m a clinical therapist and I myself had past traumatic and painful events that I was carrying around with me that lowered my self-confidence and voice. Releasing the trauma and pain felt like a huge emotional weight had been lifted, and it happens amazingly fast! It was powerful to be heard and through it I untied myself from the limiting beliefs and false notions. I’m so grateful for this healing opportunity.”
WHITNEY WALKER, LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST

MY BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE:

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M.A. in Organizational Psychology

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Insights Personality Assessment and Trainer

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Certified in Conflict Resolution

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Certified in Learning and Business Performance

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Certified in Negotiations from Yale

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B.A. in Business Management

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Studied the Law of Attraction and the principles of the Law of Success

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Worked with executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, VMWare, Intuit, BART, Army Corps of Engineers, and more.

THINGS I LOVE:

Water and sun
Extreme sports
Cuddling
Board games
Dancing and singing
Reading
Painting
Cooking
Pool and bowling
Cold showers (though, more like a love/hate relationship)
Cats, eagles, and horses

IF YOU REALLY KNEW ME, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT

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I have a soft spot for my daughter's pet bearded dragon named "Mushu"

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I cry in heartrending movies

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I can't stand it when people say hurtful things about themselves

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I have a Phoenix tattoo on my right leg, to remind me of my journey back to my "true self"

“Before working with Melinda, I had some apprehension about speaking out in a public setting. I didn’t know how to start introducing my business to people I meet and didn’t have clear intent of what I wanted to say. I didn’t understand how my attitude held the key in being able to “own” the room and stand out in a crowd setting. After her coaching I felt more comfortable in public speaking settings. I was able to relax enough to be able to really think on my feet and I answered questions really well. I didn’t feel self conscious anymore. I’m able to connect with the audience better during my presentation. Melinda helped me put things in perspective. I thought my approach to giving a presentation was OK, but she just took it to the next level.”
Jennifer D. Mariani, PhD, Founder of Charistech