About Melissa
“
In an era where everyone is niching
down, empathy is the one thing that
benefits the whole human race.
”
- Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller
“ Since implementing Dr. Robinson-Winemiller's teachings and strategies, we've seen a significant shift in our culture. Our team is more cohesive, communication is open and honest and engagement has skyrocketed. I highly recommend her services to any leader looking to unlock the power of empathy in their organization. ”
- Chason Forehand,
Founder, HR-4U INC.
MY STORY
Hi, I’m Melissa,
For me, there’s only one way to find peace when something bad happens, and that’s for something good to come out of it.
I never expected to be teaching people about empathy. But now that I’ve found my calling, I’m doing everything in my power to make the world a better place.
This is me making my ‘something good’.
From my earliest memories, I loved music. I was obsessed by it. I wanted to listen, but more importantly, I wanted to play. After winning my first French horn competition at 14, I knew it was all I wanted to do.
Music became my life. When I wasn’t studying or practicing, I was performing. I toured with different orchestras in the US and Europe. The icing on the cake was performing a solo in Rome — the dream of a lifetime come true! But the life of a gigging musician isn’t exactly stable. That’s why I jumped at the chance of a French horn professorship when it came along. I left my home and family to teach the subject I loved and was excited!
Then disaster struck. Academia turned out not to be the safe space I imagined. After being assaulted by a colleague I was left feeling scared and angry.
The worst of it was that nobody listened.
Battling an unempathic system over the 7 years that followed left me broken and despairing. The rug was pulled from under my whole life and there wasn’t a single thing I could do about it. After years at the mercy of an establishment that didn’t care, I lost my home, my job and my future — all through no fault of my own!
While trying to rebuild my life, I kept asking myself:
How could this have happened?
How is it possible to lose everything when you’ve done nothing wrong?
One thing was for sure if I had anything to do with it, I’d never want anyone else to go through that — ever!
Since then, I’ve devoted myself to understanding the human condition and in particular — empathy.
▪ What is empathy anyway?
▪ Why are some of us able to show empathy while others can’t?
▪ Is it possible to teach empathy?
▪ How can empathy make a positive impact on leadership?
These are just some of the questions I’ve delved deep into to find the answers we all need to make our world a happier, healthier, safer and more productive place — for everyone!
I’d love for you to join me on my quest for a fairer, more understanding world.
Academic Achievements
and Certifications
– Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP)
– Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP)
– Inducted Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society – 2025
– Doctorate of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership – 2025
– Cornell University: Certifications in The Psychology of Leadership, Performance Leadership, and Executive Leadership – 2023
– Society of Human Resource Management Certified Practitioner – 2023
– Western Governor’s University: Master’s of Science in Data Analytics – 2023
– Harvard University: Certification in Data Analytics – 2021
– Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – 2021
– Georgia Southwestern State University: Master’s of Business Administration – 2022
– University of Kansas: Doctorate of Musical Arts – 2008
– Yale University: Master of Music – 1998
FAQ'S
What sets you apart from all the other empathy coaches out there?
Many coaches base their work on opinions — I base my work on hard research, experience and fieldwork. Much of my work centers around leadership. I’m completing a second doctorate, this one in Interdisciplinary Leadership, and certificates in Leadership Psychology and Executive Leadership. My goal is to make the world a better place — one person {or leader} at a time.
Who do you work with?
I work with leaders who understand the need to take bold steps to create a brighter future. These people can see the writing on the wall. They know there’s no point in doing things the same way and expecting better results. They understand when it’s time to make a change, and are willing to take responsibility to create the best possible future for themselves and everyone around them.
Can I learn empathy?
Yes… and no. Most people already have empathy, they just don’t know how to use it. That’s where I come in. Some types of empathy can be honed like any other skill {yes, there’s more than one}. My job is to work one-on-one with leaders to show how empathy can supercharge their emotional intelligence skills for real-world results.
Where are you? How do you work with clients?
I’m based in Oklahoma and work with clients in a 1:1 coaching situation. For me, it’s important to see what your world looks like. This enables me to identify which of your strengths to capitalize on while learning how to integrate empathy and emotional intelligence into your leadership. Meeting face-to-face {not just via Zoom} is a must. I want to see how you work in your natural environment so I can deliver the best coaching possible.
I keep hearing everyone talking about needing empathy — empathy in sales, empathy at work, empathy with stakeholders. Is this what you’re talking about?
Yes, that’s part of it, but I approach empathy as a life skill. It’s not simply a tool for business. While it’s great to use at work, effective, actionable use of empathy connected with emotional intelligence creates better lives!
Which industries do you work with?
Although my background is in healthcare, technology, and education, empathy is something that can benefit leaders in every industry.
How long does this take?
There’s no short answer. The process depends on you. How much natural empathy do you already have? How much empathy and emotional intelligence do you regularly use? And how much work are you willing to put in?
VIDEO TESTIMONIALS
Real Stories, Real Impact:
See
EQ via Empathy
in Action!
"...productivity & profitability."
"...how empathy can affect organizations."
"key factor to understand..."
"She knocked it out of the park!"
"so much that I learned through this talk."
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