“The future belongs to leaders who know when to listen, when to let go, and when to light the way.”

Melissa Ng Goldner is Executive in Residence and Head of Strategy & Research at Coqual, where she leads initiatives that help organizations make sharper decisions about how they lead, grow, and build trust. A strategist, speaker, and transformation expert, Melissa brings a rare combination of behavioral insight and business pragmatism to her work with Fortune 500 leaders.

At Coqual, she partners closely with executive teams and research fellows to design high-impact strategies rooted in data, grounded in human behavior, and focused on what actually drives performance. She has helped shape Coqual’s evolving frameworks—including the Strategic Navigator—and plays a key role in advancing the organization’s work at the intersection of talent, culture, and competitive advantage.

Melissa’s career spans senior roles at Prophet, Ogilvy & Mather, and Slalom, where she advised CEOs, CHROs, and Global Diversity leaders on large-scale transformations ranging from post-M&A culture integration to digital evolution to building inclusive, high-performing environments. She is the founder of Fit for Future, a women-owned consultancy specializing in business transformation through the lens of human behavior and strategic clarity.

An experienced leadership advisor and certified agile coach, Melissa is known for her sharp facilitation, real-talk leadership development, and ability to help Fortune 500 CEOs and global steering committees cut through the noise with courage and intention. She speaks regularly on topics such as navigating change with resilience, reclaiming your voice in high-stakes environments, confronting workplace trauma, and building cultures that back bold, inclusive leadership.

Melissa holds a B.A. in Speech Communication and Journalism from Mary Washington University and is an alum of both Women in America and the Exceptional Women’s Awardees Foundation. She lives with intention and works to ensure more leaders do the same.