Speaking

Google began working with Change Catalyst (now Empovia!) nearly a decade ago supporting our work in racial equity and justice…. Empovia have long been leaders in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Allyship, and each engagement with Melinda, Wayne and team becomes a learning experience. Engaging with Empovia fosters in people, communities and businesses greater awareness, empathy and advocacy skills. Google has, and I have, trusted Empovia with our DEI impact, and I am excited to see how Empovia will continue this legacy.

“I went to a [@empovia] diversity and inclusion startup workshop last year and it was literally the best workshop I’ve ever been to. If you run a tech/games company in Melbourne, do not miss the next one!”

“I loved the workshop because I love this topic first and foremost, its so much a part of what we do… around hiring – which is the hardest thing I have to do, especially as we often have to hire fast, and time is always our enemy.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Melinda and the Empovia (formerly Change Catalyst) team over the last four years in my role at Reddit. She has been a great thought partner as the DEI ecosystem and conversation has evolved. She is an expert in her field, a kind and compassionate person, and thinks very progressively about changing the way organizations approach diversity, equity and inclusion.”

“The Empovia (formerly Change Catalyst) team does a tremendous job curating relevant Diversity, Equity and Inclusion content for all sectors and stakeholders…. The sessions are insightful, impactful, and designed to inspire attendees to action.”

“There are few in the DEI space that is as knowledgeable, authentic, and passionate as Melinda Epler…. She was able to illuminate the experience of the marginalized in a way that was digestible, and relatable. It had a profound effect on our C-suite and is still a topic of discussion for us. I am so proud to know her and have high expectations for where she will lead us in this work; expectations I am sure she will meet.”

“Melinda wowed us with her Ted Talk prompting us to give her a call and we are so glad we did! Melinda hosted a very thoughtful and engaging Allyship workshop for our senior leadership team in Sept 2020. Melinda was wonderful to work with, weaving our Mission, Vision and Values into her presentation, making it all the more relevant to our audience. Through colourful storytelling and by sharing what she’s learned about Inclusion, Melinda taught us how to be stronger allies to the under-represented people in our workplace.”

“Having worked with Melinda, I recommend her without hesitation. Melinda is creative, thinks strategically and can interact with and most importantly, engage across all levels of stakeholders, which is critical when dealing with the systemic issues inherent in diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As a consultant, she was able to create customized learnings and solutions for our company, and her co-leadership of Empovia (formerly Change Catalyst) has ensured that the group is positioned as a leader in this space.”

“I had the pleasure of partnering with Melinda Briana Epler, CEO of Empovia (formerly Change Catalyst) who spoke with Figma to share her insights and reflections on what we can all do to be better allies at work. Our employees appreciated the discussion and opportunity to reflect on the roles of allies in the workplace. We have ordered 100 copies of her book, How to Be an Ally, to facilitate ongoing discussions sparked by Melinda’s talk. Thanks, Melinda!”

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Melinda and Empovia (formerly Change Catalyst). Melinda is an expert in the DEIB space, and successfully facilitated multiple workshops on DEIB for my prior organization’s employees and managers. She is a true thought partner and crafted a presentation that was engaging, thought-provoking, and well received throughout the organization.”

“Working with the Empovia (formerly Change Catalyst) Team for the past 12 months has been nothing short of an amazing experience! Melinda and Cory are well-versed as facilitators and take the time to understand their audience both personally and professionally to create the best environment for absorbing information. We’ve had three cohorts… — with a fourth starting soon — and we continue to receive phenomenal feedback regarding new insights and perspectives from our colleagues. We cherish our continued partnership with Melinda and the Empovia Team and thank them for being a part of our DE&I journey at BENlabs.”