
Melinda Marshall
Fellow at Coqual's Global Lab
“Those whom I admire most are those brave enough to be child-like in their desire to understand.”
Melinda is a journalist and author intent on investigating how diverse teams and inclusive leaders produce measurably better results for global organizations.
As a lead researcher for the Center for Talent Innovation (the precursor to Coqual) Melinda conducted research that explored—and quantified— how diversity drives innovation and market growth. The research culminated in a 2013 report published by CTI as well as articles Melinda co-authored for Harvard Business Review, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and forbes.com. To this day, Innovation, Diversity and Market Growth is cited by talent specialists as among the most rigorous business cases for workforce diversity and inclusive leadership ever published.
Melinda also led CTI’s extensive research on sponsorship, the mechanism by which rising stars fulfil their leadership potential. “The Relationship You Need to Get Right,” which Melinda co-authored for Harvard Business Review, informed the subsequent book for Harvard Business Review Press, named a 2013 Best Business Book of the Year.
An ardent rock climber and backpacker, Melinda brings to her workplace investigations the discipline and focus that have served her so well in the wilderness. Today she lives in the woods of Briarcliff Manor, New York, with her husband and, regrettably, none of her three grown children. She is a graduate of Duke University and Columbia University, where she earned a Master’s in Human Rights in 2012.