Inspire your audience to change the world.
Challenge your audience with our FORBES-praised tools & Cambridge University endorsed insights, to take powerful next steps towards a better future.
"Dr van de Velde's research is outstanding and a worthy winner of the Adam Smith Prize for PhD Excellence"
Research Director, Centre for Social Innovation, Cambridge University
Keynote speaker, workshops
​How can you invest effectively in a better future?
Why do some create a 200 to 400% better impact return compared to most?
And create a stronger competitive edge?​
Keynote
The ultimate 3 choices that shape your future
​​You and your friends and family are stranded on a remote island. There are 3 fundamental choices to be made..
Your choices bring home the ultimate sustainability destination. The destination where our global issues are (largely) fixed and humanity and our planet flourish.
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What does the ultimate sustainability destination look like? What global best practices show these solutions in reality? Why do these achieve exceptional outcomes? And how can you take powerful next steps towards this destination?
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Dr van de Velde's interactive talk takes the audience on a profound journey. A journey that crystalizes the direction for powerful next steps towards a genuinely better future.
Workshop
Sustainability as a powerful competitive edge
Sustainability can lead to substantial benefits. 'Purpose driven companies grow 3 times faster', according to a Deloitte Study. A Kantar report shows that purpose driven companies have experienced a +175% increase in valuation.
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But sustainability does not automatically lead to improved productivity, brand value, and business growth.
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Discover why some global best practices gain far more significant business benefits compared to most other companies that pursue sustainability.
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Be guided by our tools to reflect on your current competitive advantages, and consider as to how your sustainability efforts can lead to a more significant, authentic, competitive edge.
Workshop
The sustainability end game
​What is the end game of sustainability? What does this final destination look like across the biggest issues that we're facing as humanity?
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As for any ship that sets sail, understanding the final coordinates gives clear guidance for an effective journey towards its destination.
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Uncover how best practices achieve a 200-400% stronger impact return than most by setting course towards the ultimate sustainability destination.
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Be challenged by our tools and exercises to have ​meaningful conversations as to where your current initiatives sit compared to the end game of sustainability, and evaluate their power.
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​Get inspired to tease out ideas towards taking the best next steps on your journey for strong impact results, as well as boosting productivity and growth.
Speaker Bio
​Melanie van de Velde, MSc, MBA, PhD
The nine-year-old Melanie was asked what problem she wanted to solve when she grew up. She answered that she wanted to help people who were living in poverty. In the years since, she has witnessed the other injustices in our world that ultimately harm us all.
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Driven to find the most effective solutions towards a better world, her research took her past more and less successful initiatives from around the globe, Nobel Prize Laureates, and sector experts. Dr van de Velde's research was awarded the Adam Smith Prize for PhD Excellence. Nominated for the prize by the Research Director at the Centre for Social Innovation at Cambridge University, her thesis was the source of many insights in her book LEAD LIKE A GENIUS. The book was commended as "A Powerhouse for Sustainable Growth" by FORBES Books.
Her other academic achievements include an MBA with Distinction from the University of Glasgow in the UK, and an MSc in Industrial Engineering at the University of Twente in The Netherlands.
Prior to her research, Dr van de Velde has managed Asia Pacific markets for a multi-billion-dollar tech company. She's worked in senior management at IT start-ups,. And she's run a fashion business to empower young women in a Nairobi slum.
Her journey has instilled an even stronger belief that we can overcome many of the biggest challenges humanity is facing, knowing that the solutions already exist. Solutions that tackle climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, poverty, social exclusion, rising inequality, and our health and wellbeing with exceptional results. Sadly, much time, money and energy go into efforts that don't work as well.
Melanie devotes her life to sharing her insights and tools to support people in organisations to invest their time and energy in initiatives that boost engagement, excitement, purpose, personal development, and business growth. And most of all, that genuinely help to create a far better future than where we're currently heading.
Testimonials
"I had the pleasure of listening to Melanie opening the 1st international ESG city conference, held in Brazil.
Without a doubt, this was the highlight of the event. Exceptional experience and technique and a didactic that kept everyone engaged."
Marcus Maida
Lawyer and Business Consultant
Brazil
"Inspirational. Melanie’s MPACT Wheel simplifies this immensely complex topic that we want to tackle together.
It really helped to structure our thinking and which areas of the wheel we want to focus on."
Jules Prick
Co-Founder Koos Service Design
The Netherlands
"The experience will have a profound impact on my life. Since I started my MBA, I have been thinking a lot about ESG and sustainability. Despite its popularity, I have found it lacking in depth or workable solutions. Your insights opened my eyes and has not only deepened my understanding of sustainability but also provided me with a clearer direction and inspiration to make a positive difference in the world."
Yue Shue
Executive MBA student Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow
China
"Way more insightful than what you get elsewhere."
Jamie Davidson
Director
Johnston Carmichael
UK
"Inspirational."
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Bee Lin Chow
Head of Asia Energy Analytics ICIS RELX
Singapore
"Amazing insights, this is the need of the hour."
Inir Pinheiro
Founder & CEO
Grassroutes
India
"I came home bouncing after the sessions. The UN SDGs used to feel overwhelming. Now they feel comfortable, and I can't wait to tackle them."
Merlijn Mazairac
CEO & Founder The Rookie Minds
The Netherlands
"Finally, a tool to help identify effective impact initiatives. The imperative to make a positive impact and deliver profits may seem paradoxical, but it is possible. Melanie has solved this with her simple, easy-to-adopt methodology to help businesses create powerful social and environmental impact strategies."
Mark Fallows
Founder Fabrica Collective & The Impossible Network
US
