Melanie Hicks

Actions speak louder than words. What can we learn from a sequin dress?

We all have them. Those powerfully impactful leaders who drift through our career landscape for days or years at a time. Despite many having no idea of their impact, they leave lasting imprints that shape the leaders we become.
As summer days turn to autumn leaves, it is a season of reflection and gratitude. In this vein, below are four pieces of timeless advice applicable to leaders of all kinds.

Childhood memories can lay the foundation for solid career principles.

Bob Ross, the soft-spoken painter of the 1980s and '90s was more than a pop icon and art enthusiast, he was also a proliferate inspiration for leading with purpose and calm. Dr. Hicks uses Ross' inspiration to illuminate lessons on leadership trust.

Dr. Hicks illuminates the various types of blended value and their value to business and society.

In 1973, Mark Granovetter, a Harvard-trained sociology Ph.D., posited that “weak ties” were far more beneficial to people looking to capitalize on social networks than strong ties. How can these weak ties help move businesses forward in today's realities?

Great tips from top Forbes experts on business plan development.

Research has shown that the businesses that survive the longest are those that have a solid business plan. New entrepreneurs hear this information, but it gets lost in a sea of contradicting tips and tricks. The result is that these entrepreneurs either fail to create a thorough business plan or try to make it do too much.

As more employers embrace work-from-home policies for staff, the question of building a cohesive company culture hangs in the balance. Within the walls of a company's building, employers can carefully cultivate company culture. However, as those employees work from the comfort of their own homes, they have less direct interaction with their workmates. How then can a business ensure that company culture is ingrained into their staff's work attitude? This collaborative article explores how.

Business development professionals always have to be aware of the market’s latest trends and developments. The market ebbs and flows, but shows off specific trends. Business development professionals can leverage these trends to create an effective go-to market strategy. This collaborative article highlights various perspectives.

Covid-19 Global Pandemic has produced economic, social and behavioral disruption on a scale both deeper and broader than the 1918 Flu Pandemic or the 2008 Great Recession. As we continue to endure the effects of the pandemic uncertainty, impacts on consumer behavior and spending patterns are beginning to reveal themselves. The good news? Many of these emerging trends bode well for the WINEthropist movement.

In a world of fast moving technology, pressure cooker work climates and stretched resources, productivity, employee engagement, and talent retention are critical to the success of any organization. Research administration offices are no exception. Psychological contract theory provides insightful illumination on reactions to these environments by various generations of employees.

How to slow down and appreciate the small moments of life.

Unplugging to enhance creativity.

“Genius is the idea. Impact, however, comes from action.” – Simon Sinek

Like so many of us, you may long for ways to make a tangible impact in our communities yet struggle on finding the right fit. Something more hands on than simply donating money. Something with more long term relevance than volunteering for a day. Something innovative perhaps?

Why your everyday actions are more impactful than you think.

“If you think you are too small to make an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.” – Anita Roddick