Member since July 2022
Meridith Grundei is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and executive communication expert who helps technical leaders and visionary entrepreneurs turn complex information into unforgettable presentations. She’s known for captivating audiences from the main stage, having delivered high-impact keynotes for Amazon AWS, Accenture, The Channel Company (Women of the Channel), and other global tech communities.
Meridith blends the precision of a communication strategist with the creative firepower of a former Second City improv instructor and professional theater director. She’s trained teams and leaders at some of the world’s top companies—including Accenture, Mercer, VISA, Google, and Merck—to communicate with more clarity, confidence, and presence.
Meridith creates bold, experiential training programs that teach people how to ditch robotic delivery, tell human-centered stories, and lead with their voice. Her programs—like Own Your Voice and Present with Impact—are especially designed for those in technical roles who want to simplify complex ideas and connect with diverse audiences.
Meridith believes that exceptional communication is a leadership skill—and in the tech world, it’s often the missing link between brilliant ideas and real-world impact. Whether she’s on stage or leading a workshop, her mission is to help people speak with intention, listen with empathy, and spark change through every conversation.
I get fired up when I see someone go from barely speaking up in a meeting to commanding a room with clarity and conviction. That kind of transformation? That’s why I do this work.
I’m passionate about helping people find their voice—not the one they think they should have, but the one that actually reflects who they are. The one that speaks with confidence, not just competence. Especially when it comes to leaders in tech and business who are building the future but still feel stuck presenting it.
I love collaborating with creative, mission-driven people who want to make a real impact through storytelling. The kind of people who are willing to get a little uncomfortable, try something new, and not just check a box—but actually connect.
I’m endlessly curious and always up for finding a solution—whether that’s helping someone untangle a messy presentation or figuring out how to fix the thing that’s actually getting in the way of them being heard.
Travel cracks me open in the best way. It keeps me humble, challenges my assumptions, and reminds me there’s always more to learn. And when I’m not doing any of the above, you’ll find me eating amazing food with amazing people, glass in hand, soaking up the moment.
There I was, 23 years old, working at a fine dining restaurant inside an upscale hotel in San Francisco, holding a tray with freshly made cocktails. I stepped up to the birthday girl—ready to serve the last glass—and as I reached in, I lost my balance. The drink tipped, and champagne spilled all over her shoulder.
It was one of those slow-motion, oh no no no moments. I wanted to disappear.
This table? Fourteen women celebrating a 40th birthday. They had just sat down, and even before the spill, I could feel the pressure building. They were demanding, sharp with their tone, and quick to snap if anything wasn’t perfect. And I was already nervous.
But something clicked in me, right in the middle of that mess. I thought, Meridith, yes—and the hell out of this moment.
I remembered one of the first things I learned in service: when things go south, go above and beyond. So I took a breath, steadied myself, and offered to pay for her dry cleaning. My manager backed me up. I got the other servers to rally around me. I kept saying “yes” to their needs and adding whatever grace I could, even though inside I was dying a little.
Three hours later, they not only tipped me 30%—they invited me to keep celebrating with them upstairs.
That moment taught me a lot about people, pressure, and how to turn a disaster into connection. Sometimes your “difficult” client isn’t really difficult—they’re waiting to see how you’ll show up. And when you lead with presence, generosity, and a little improv magic, you can turn it all around.
Yes—and. It works.
When I was younger, I was the quiet kid who sat in the back row, afraid to speak my mind in fear of sounding foolish or not having the answer. Everything changed when I stumbled into theatre and improv. It was because I had a script and a character to hide behind where I slowly started to build my confidence and use my voice. Later in life I studied improvisational comedy. And because there wasn't a script, I was forced to share my point of view and this is when I really started to bloom.
Fast forward to today, I draw from those transformative experiences to help others find their voice. I've been at it for over a decade, and it's been rewarding to see people grow and succeed. Clients range from small business owners to tech giants and pharmaceutical companies, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Available as a keynote or breakout session: 30 to 90 minutes, adapted for the time available.
Picture the person in your audience who knows their material cold, has done the work, and still walks away from every presentation feeling like they left something on the table. This session is for them. Communication strategist and former Second City instructor Meridith Grundei shows audiences how to close the gap between what they know and what their audience actually hears. Using storytelling, applied improvisation, and real-time practice, participants discover that the most unforgettable communicators aren't the most polished ones. They're the most present.
Attendees leave with:
Ideal for:
Available as a keynote, breakout session, or panel: 10 to 45 minutes, adapted for the time available — not condensed.
We built AI to sound more human. Now we're starting to sound like it. Professionals are increasingly writing, speaking, and presenting in ways that feel generated rather than genuine. The hooks are borrowed. The phrases are recycled. The voice is missing. In this timely and provocative session, Fast Company contributor and communication strategist Meridith Grundei names what's happening to human communication in the age of AI and gives audiences three immediately actionable practices to get their voice back.
Attendees leave with:
As a panel, Meridith brings the communication and coaching perspective to a broader conversation about what happens to human voice, culture, and connection when organizations outsource their words to AI. She's a natural moderator and provocateur — someone who can hold a room, draw out other panelists, and keep the audience in the conversation.
Ideal for:
Available as a breakout session or workshop: 45 to 90 minutes, adapted for the time available.
Picture the person in your audience who freezes when the conversation goes sideways, over-explains under pressure, or gives the same answer whether they're talking to a peer or a CEO. This session is for them. If the words "improv session" make your attendees nervous, good. That means this is exactly what they need. No experience required. No performance anxiety needed. Just a willingness to show up and play. In this high-energy workshop, Meridith Grundei uses the core principles of Applied Improvisation to build real-time communication skills that hold up under pressure. Participants practice listening, responding, and adapting in a room full of peers and leave with tools they can use the same day.
Attendees leave with:
Ideal for: breakout sessions at sales kickoffs and channel partner conferences where teams need to think faster and connect better under pressure. Team offsites and leadership development programs where building trust and psychological safety is as important as building skills. Any event where the program chair wants the audience energized rather than exhausted by the end of the day.
Available as a keynote, breakout, panel, or opening session: 10 to 90 minutes, adapted for the time available — not condensed.
Some audiences need something no existing session can give them. A room full of first-generation professionals finding their voice for the first time. A leadership team that's been through a merger and needs to remember how to trust each other. A conference theme so specific that a template won't touch it. Meridith Grundei builds custom sessions for moments like these. The process starts with a call about who's in the room, what they're carrying, and what would make this the talk they're still thinking about a week later. From there she builds the session around your audience's specific language, challenges, and moment. She collaborates closely with event teams from the first conversation to the final session. Nothing is adapted from existing material. Everything is built for you.
Every custom engagement delivers:
To explore what a custom session could look like for your event, reach out directly. The conversation starts with Meridith.
Embrace your superpowers and overcome barriers that prevent you from being a more confident speaker.
https://youtu.be/qHMbe68dCRE?feature=shared
In this episode, our awesome host Jason Dion is back again with another episode of the Your Cyber Path podcast. This time, he’s accompanied by an amazing guest, Meridith Grundei. Meridith is a renowned public speaking coach and owner of Grundei Coaching who specializes in public speaking and presentation skills.
Meridith explains that understanding your client and doing your due diligence of research and studying will help you immensely in your attempts to simplify any complex concept to any level of audience. You need to figure out your objective, point out all the key takeaways, and choose the ones that support your argument. Listen here 👉 https://www.yourcyberpath.com/podcast/104/
There I was, 23 years old, working at a fine dining restaurant inside an upscale hotel in San Francisco, holding a tray with freshly made cocktails. I stepped up to the birthday girl—ready to serve the last glass—and as I reached in, I lost my balance. The drink tipped, and champagne spilled all over her shoulder.
It was one of those slow-motion, oh no no no moments. I wanted to disappear.
This table? Fourteen women celebrating a 40th birthday. They had just sat down, and even before the spill, I could feel the pressure building. They were demanding, sharp with their tone, and quick to snap if anything wasn’t perfect. And I was already nervous.
But something clicked in me, right in the middle of that mess. I thought, Meridith, yes—and the hell out of this moment.
I remembered one of the first things I learned in service: when things go south, go above and beyond. So I took a breath, steadied myself, and offered to pay for her dry cleaning. My manager backed me up. I got the other servers to rally around me. I kept saying “yes” to their needs and adding whatever grace I could, even though inside I was dying a little.
Three hours later, they not only tipped me 30%—they invited me to keep celebrating with them upstairs.
That moment taught me a lot about people, pressure, and how to turn a disaster into connection. Sometimes your “difficult” client isn’t really difficult—they’re waiting to see how you’ll show up. And when you lead with presence, generosity, and a little improv magic, you can turn it all around.
Yes—and. It works.
When I was younger, I was the quiet kid who sat in the back row, afraid to speak my mind in fear of sounding foolish or not having the answer. Everything changed when I stumbled into theatre and improv. It was because I had a script and a character to hide behind where I slowly started to build my confidence and use my voice. Later in life I studied improvisational comedy. And because there wasn't a script, I was forced to share my point of view and this is when I really started to bloom.
Fast forward to today, I draw from those transformative experiences to help others find their voice. I've been at it for over a decade, and it's been rewarding to see people grow and succeed. Clients range from small business owners to tech giants and pharmaceutical companies, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Available as a keynote or breakout session: 30 to 90 minutes, adapted for the time available.
Picture the person in your audience who knows their material cold, has done the work, and still walks away from every presentation feeling like they left something on the table. This session is for them. Communication strategist and former Second City instructor Meridith Grundei shows audiences how to close the gap between what they know and what their audience actually hears. Using storytelling, applied improvisation, and real-time practice, participants discover that the most unforgettable communicators aren't the most polished ones. They're the most present.
Attendees leave with:
Ideal for:
Available as a keynote, breakout session, or panel: 10 to 45 minutes, adapted for the time available — not condensed.
We built AI to sound more human. Now we're starting to sound like it. Professionals are increasingly writing, speaking, and presenting in ways that feel generated rather than genuine. The hooks are borrowed. The phrases are recycled. The voice is missing. In this timely and provocative session, Fast Company contributor and communication strategist Meridith Grundei names what's happening to human communication in the age of AI and gives audiences three immediately actionable practices to get their voice back.
Attendees leave with:
As a panel, Meridith brings the communication and coaching perspective to a broader conversation about what happens to human voice, culture, and connection when organizations outsource their words to AI. She's a natural moderator and provocateur — someone who can hold a room, draw out other panelists, and keep the audience in the conversation.
Ideal for:
Available as a breakout session or workshop: 45 to 90 minutes, adapted for the time available.
Picture the person in your audience who freezes when the conversation goes sideways, over-explains under pressure, or gives the same answer whether they're talking to a peer or a CEO. This session is for them. If the words "improv session" make your attendees nervous, good. That means this is exactly what they need. No experience required. No performance anxiety needed. Just a willingness to show up and play. In this high-energy workshop, Meridith Grundei uses the core principles of Applied Improvisation to build real-time communication skills that hold up under pressure. Participants practice listening, responding, and adapting in a room full of peers and leave with tools they can use the same day.
Attendees leave with:
Ideal for: breakout sessions at sales kickoffs and channel partner conferences where teams need to think faster and connect better under pressure. Team offsites and leadership development programs where building trust and psychological safety is as important as building skills. Any event where the program chair wants the audience energized rather than exhausted by the end of the day.
Available as a keynote, breakout, panel, or opening session: 10 to 90 minutes, adapted for the time available — not condensed.
Some audiences need something no existing session can give them. A room full of first-generation professionals finding their voice for the first time. A leadership team that's been through a merger and needs to remember how to trust each other. A conference theme so specific that a template won't touch it. Meridith Grundei builds custom sessions for moments like these. The process starts with a call about who's in the room, what they're carrying, and what would make this the talk they're still thinking about a week later. From there she builds the session around your audience's specific language, challenges, and moment. She collaborates closely with event teams from the first conversation to the final session. Nothing is adapted from existing material. Everything is built for you.
Every custom engagement delivers:
To explore what a custom session could look like for your event, reach out directly. The conversation starts with Meridith.
Embrace your superpowers and overcome barriers that prevent you from being a more confident speaker.
https://youtu.be/qHMbe68dCRE?feature=shared
In this episode, our awesome host Jason Dion is back again with another episode of the Your Cyber Path podcast. This time, he’s accompanied by an amazing guest, Meridith Grundei. Meridith is a renowned public speaking coach and owner of Grundei Coaching who specializes in public speaking and presentation skills.
Meridith explains that understanding your client and doing your due diligence of research and studying will help you immensely in your attempts to simplify any complex concept to any level of audience. You need to figure out your objective, point out all the key takeaways, and choose the ones that support your argument. Listen here 👉 https://www.yourcyberpath.com/podcast/104/
