Elevating the Talents of Women
Business-led 501(c)3 | Men are Allies | Strategic Chamber Partners
Melanie Jones
CEO, Women's Leadership Institute
Melanie Jones is the Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Leadership Institute, Utah’s premier organization dedicated to elevating professional women through cohort-based training programs and corporate partnerships. In her role, Melanie is committed to changing the experience and narrative of what it means to be a businesswoman...
Nicole Carpenter
Director of Programs and Operations, Women's Leadership Institute
Nicole Carpenter has been a part of the Women's Leadership Institute since its inception in 2015 as a member of the Advisory Board. In 2017, Nicole moved over as an integral part of the WLI team. In addition to the Women's Leadership Institute, Nicole continues to advocate for women as an author, speaker...
Jen Hunsaker
Director of Marketing and Communications, Women's Leadership Institute
Jen Hunsaker is the new Director of Marketing and Communications for the Women’s Leadership Institute. She’s worked for 15 years as a writer for startups, global companies, and major corporations. Before joining WLI, she worked at Ancestry and started a...
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SPEAKERS, TRAINERS, AND FACILITATORS
The team at the Women’s Leadership Institute is a great resource for organizations who are looking for keynote or breakout presentations, guest speakers for company meetings or ERG events, and focus group facilitation. Let us help you start empowering conversations.
Melanie Jones is …
Earned, Proven, Ready: What Every Leader Should Know About Untapped Talent
[35 to 50 minutes, highly-interactive presentation]
Description:
Why do high-performers often feel they need to prove it again, while others are promoted on potential alone? In this powerful and practical session, Melanie Jones, CEO of the Women’s Leadership Institute, explores the hidden dynamics that cause organizations to overlook incredible talent — and what great leaders do differently. Drawing from real-world stories and lived experience, this session unpacks how self-doubt, unconscious bias, and outdated definitions of “merit” can get in the way of building high-performing teams. You’ll walk away with tools to recognize and activate untapped talent on your team — and maybe even in yourself.
Participants will learn:
- Recognize the leadership “readiness gap” — why men are often advanced on potential while women are required to prove themselves repeatedly.
- Understand hidden barriers such as the double bind and “prove-it-again syndrome” and how they undermine both women and organizational performance.
- Learn how to spot untapped talent by looking beyond self-promotion to the real, sometimes quieter, indicators of leadership.
- Gain practical tools to “tap” emerging leaders early through intentional invitations and encouragement that build confidence.
- Reframe merit and readiness to include relational skills, adaptability, and perspective — qualities that improve team performance but often go unmeasured.
Nicole Carpenter is an engaging speaker who specializes in giving her audience tangible tools they can use to create change in their lives and businesses. She’s relatable with a little twist of humor.
She’s spoken at Utah’s Business Diversity Summit, Utah’s Women in Business Conference, Utah Nonprofit Association, Women’s Energy Network, and many Chamber events across the state of Utah. She’s also spoken for company resource groups such as AltaBank, DPS Skis, and Snowbasin Ski Resort.
Conquer Imposter Syndrome: Find Your Strength and Do it Anyway
[20 to 60 minutes, interactive presentation or keynote]
Description:
That voice in your head whispers, “Do you even belong here? Are you good enough?” You try to ignore it, but Imposter Syndrome can be loud and relentless. In this session, Nicole Carpenter from the Women’s Leadership Institute will explore the different types of Imposter Syndrome and help you recognize which one may be holding you back. More importantly, she’ll show you how your strengths are your key to confidence and empower you with a formula to fight back.
Participants will learn:
- 5 Imposter Syndrome archetypes
- A strengths-based confidence strategy
- A 3-part formula to quiet the inner critic
Identify and Leverage Your Power Skills
[35 to 50 minutes, highly-interactive presentation]
Description:
Skills you have are in demand — and you may not even know it! In this presentation, Nicole Carpenter with the Women’s Leadership Institute will show you how your power skills are strengths and make you uniquely valuable. You will learn 5 clues to talent, which top skills businesses are looking for, which ones you already have, and how to identify and leverage them on LinkedIn.
Participants will learn:
- Five clues to identify talent
- How to lean into personal strengths
- How to identify their power skills
- What power skills are trending in business
- How to showcase power skills on LinkedIn*
*If audiences prefer not to showcase LinkedIn, Nicole can substitute this section out for ‘how to showcase power skills at work.’
How to Start a Diversity Initiative that Works
[35 to 50 minutes, interactive presentation]
Description:
We know diversity in the workplace is more important than ever and has a direct return on investment for your organization. Knowing where to start can feel daunting. In this presentation, Nicole Carpenter with the Women’s Leadership Institute will share the first 7 things you can do for a D.I.V.E.R.S.E. workplace, without pointing fingers or placing blame. Even if you are not ready for a full diversity initiative now, your company can start diverse practices that lead to ongoing successes later.
Participants will learn:
- Why diversity is important
- The 7 critical components of a successful diversity initiative
- Participants will leave feeling confident they have a framework they can follow
Workshop: Start with Talent; Finish with Strength
[1.5 to 2-hour Clifton Strengths (StrengthsFinder) Workshop]
About Gallup:
Backed by over 50 years of research, Gallup’s CliftonStrengths is a widely recognized and validated assessment, that allows individuals to discover and capitalize on their unique strengths and talents. By incorporating this framework into your team dynamics, you aim to achieve the following benefits for your company culture:
- Fostering a Strengths-Based Culture
- Improved Communication and Collaboration
- Personal and Professional Growth
- Enhanced Employee Engagement
- Strengthened Leadership
This workshop is best designed to follow each team member taking the CliftonStrenths assessment.
Description:
Nicole Carpenter with the Women’s Leadership Institute is also a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. In “Start With Talent; Finish With Strength,” Nicole will lead your team training and teach you how to develop your talents into strengths and see the importance of your unique contributions.
You have a special gift-mix of talents waiting to be unlocked and developed. This workshop will utilize the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment to help you identify your unique talents and unlock your potential. You will receive a personalized report with your strengths profile and will learn how to develop your talents into strengths and aim those strengths to reach goals and overcome conflict.
Participants will learn:
- Positive psychology and the principles of strength-based development
- Identify your unique talents and learn how to develop them into strengths
- Gain an understanding of how to manage your weaknesses and avoid blind spots
- Explore the beginnings of strengths-based communication
- Understand how your strengths can contribute to decision-making and team development