by Melissa Thornley | Jul 14, 2023
When Barbara Roche asked me to be a part of Reel Chicago’s Reel Women series, I was over the moon. Although it feels like a lifetime ago, the majority of my career took place in film and advertising. It’s where I learned and practiced leadership skills...
by Melissa Thornley | Dec 16, 2021
Our theme for December is Acknowledgment. Acknowledgment is simply: acceptance of the truth or existence of something. No judgment necessary. Some things may not be cause for celebration, but by acknowledging them, we can honor their existence and move on. With all of...
by Melissa Thornley | Nov 12, 2021
There’s a lot out there about stress management. And with good reason. Many of the organizations I work with have noticed that their leaders are suffering from burnout or are languishing (sense of emptiness, stagnation, ennui). Maybe this is you; maybe it’s not. The...
by Melissa Thornley | Oct 15, 2021
Want to know the secret to just about everything? Pay attention. Slow down. Play nice. You can apply the above rules anywhere, but they are particularly critical to teamwork, whether you’re the official manager of the team or are leading as a team player. Let’s think...
by Melissa Thornley | Sep 12, 2021
Balance beams still cause a wave of anxiety in me. One of my worst gym class memories was somersaulting off of a balance beam. It wasn’t a high beam and I landed on a mat, but I still got a big nasty bruise down my back. Why was somersaulting on a balance beam even a...
