Melissa D.
Innovation Strategist at Creative Sandbox Solutions
Innovation
Education: UC Berkeley - University of Birmingham, UK
Mountain View, CA, USA
Biography
Melissa Dinwiddie, M.Soc.Sci., transforms "impossible" into reality. At 16, she took her first dance class with a dream of attending Juilliard. Three years later, she was in. Now, she empowers leaders and teams to achieve breakthrough innovation through her Create the Impossible™ keynotes, workshops, and retreats. Drawing on her eclectic background—from calligraphy to jazz singing—Melissa designs interactive experiences that spark creativity, foster connection, and drive measurable results. She's transformed teams at companies like Google, Meta, and Salesforce, proving that professional development can be a blast.
When not revolutionizing corporate cultures, Melissa's either wrangling rambunctious cats or attempting ukulele-and-bass duets with herself. Her mission? Equipping analytical minds with the mindset, skillset, and toolkit to turn the impossible into reality. Melissa holds degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Birmingham, England, and is the author of "The Creative Sandbox Way™"—an adventure packaged as a book that Chris Guillebeau calls "essential for the bookshelf."
Passion
I'm passionate about creativity! All humans are creative—it's our birthright!
Featured Video
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
Everything is negotiable
Topics
Best Story
Years ago I was taking a workshop, looking at my table partner's work, thinking to myself, "Wow, her work is so cool and interesting -- I wish my work was like hers." I was completely caught in the Comparison Trap, convinced my work was crap. I almost didn't come back for the 2nd day of the workshop. Thankfully, I did come back, and part way into that 2nd day my table partner turned to me and said, "Melissa, your work is so cool and interesting, I wish my work was like yours."
Knock me over with a feather! That was an epiphany moment for me -- that someone whose work I admired so much could find my "crappy" work worthy of admiration!
I realized that other people's work will always seem more cool and interesting than your own, not because it's better (that's purely subjective), but simply because it's a product of their unconscious, which is totally unknown and mysterious to you.
Example talks
Creating the Impossible™: Unleashing Innovation Through Play, Imperfection, and Rapid Learning
In today's fast-paced tech world, the pressure to innovate is relentless. But what if the key to breakthrough innovation isn't more pressure, but more play? In this engaging and interactive keynote, Melissa Dinwiddie, innovation strategist and former professional artist, reveals how embracing your inner four-year-old can lead to extraordinary breakthroughs.
Drawing from her unique background in art, improvisation, and music, Melissa demonstrates how the principles that drive creativity in the arts can revolutionize innovation in tech. Through storytelling, live demonstrations, and audience participation, she'll challenge your assumptions about creativity and equip you with practical tools to Create the Impossible™.
This keynote is perfect for:
• Tech organizations looking to foster a culture of innovation
• Teams struggling to think outside the box and generate fresh ideas
• Leaders seeking to unlock their team's full creative potential
• Individuals who believe they're "not creative" but want to be
Your audience will leave with:
1. A renewed sense of creative confidence and permission to play
2. Practical techniques to overcome the fear of imperfection and generate more innovative ideas
3. Strategies to turn "failures" into valuable learning experiences that accelerate innovation
4. Tools to create psychological safety within teams, encouraging the free flow of ideas
5. A fresh perspective on how to break through expertise-induced blindness and see new possibilities
Melissa's Create the Impossible™ framework – Play Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast – provides a simple yet powerful approach to innovation that anyone can apply, regardless of their role or industry. This keynote can be customized for different time slots (20-90 minutes) and tailored to specific tech sectors, ensuring your audience receives maximum value.
Prepare to be entertained, challenged, and transformed. Get ready to Create the Impossible™!
The Art of Impossible Leadership: Unlocking Innovation Through Creativity
In a world where AI can crunch numbers faster than we can say "spreadsheet," what's a leader to do? The answer might surprise you: it's time to pick up a paintbrush (or a ukulele, or a lump of clay). In this engaging and interactive keynote, Melissa Dinwiddie, innovation strategist and recovering "serious artist," reveals how artistic practices can transform you into the kind of leader who thrives in our rapidly changing world.
Drawing from her unique background as a professional artist turned innovation consultant, Melissa demonstrates how the principles that drive creativity in the arts can revolutionize leadership and innovation in any field. Through humorous storytelling, live demonstrations, and audience participation, she'll challenge your assumptions about leadership and equip you with practical tools to Create the Impossible™ in your organization.
This keynote is perfect for:
• Leaders seeking to foster innovation and creativity in their teams
• Organizations struggling with employee engagement and burnout
• Professionals looking to develop uniquely human skills that AI can't replicate
• Anyone who's ever said, "I'm not creative" (spoiler alert: you are!)
Your audience will leave with:
• A new understanding of how artistic practices enhance leadership skills and drive innovation
• Practical techniques to boost creativity, reduce stress, and improve problem-solving abilities
• Strategies to cultivate emotional intelligence and improve team dynamics through artistic approaches
• Tools to create a culture that embraces "productive failure" and fosters a growth mindset
• A renewed sense of play and possibility in their professional lives
Melissa's Create the Impossible™ framework – Play Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast – provides a simple yet powerful approach to leadership that anyone can apply, regardless of their artistic ability. This keynote can be customized for different time slots (45-90 minutes) and tailored to specific industries, ensuring your audience receives maximum value.
Get ready to doodle your way to better leadership, compose a symphony of innovation, and paint a masterpiece of organizational success. It's time to Create the Impossible™!