Biography
Experience • Passion • Commitment
Melanie Ott, PCC, BCC, CCM, SHRM-CP is the principal and founder of Leap Forward Coaching, an executive coaching firm dedicated to helping leaders achieve greater success and fulfillment in their professional and personal lives.
With over 30 years of leadership, human resource, coaching and training experience, Melanie is uniquely qualified to guide executives, leaders and teams through challenging situations. Her background and clients represent a broad spectrum of industries including health care, Federal Government, defense, nuclear energy, pharmaceuticals, transportation, engineering, telecommunications, and non-profit.
Melanie enjoys and has extensive experience coaching senior and mid-level leaders in the private and public sector. She recognizes and understands the competencies required for success and the typical challenges and obstacles these leaders face on a daily basis. Having been a senior team member on executive teams, Melanie is comfortable and successful in coaching engagements with senior and C-level leaders as well as high potential and emerging leaders. In addition, she specializes in working with people who are in transition, newly promoted, taking on a challenging assignment, or leading a new team.
Melanie holds a master’s in Adult Learning and Human Resource Development from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Maryland. She achieved her coach training through the Success Unlimited Network® (SUN) and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Board Certified Coach (BCC) and a Certified Coach Mentor (CCM).
She has earned other professional certifications including SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). She is certified in assessments from the Center of Creative Leadership (CCL) Hogan, Clark Wilson, the Myers Briggs, EQ-I 2.0 and EQ-360, FIRO and FIRO-B, Workplace Big Five, Influence and Change Style Indicator.
Melanie is an adjunct executive coach and facilitator for CCL and a certified instructor for SHRM. She has provided education and training in leadership development, human resources, public speaking, communication skills, conflict resolution, performance management, employee relations, and employment law.
Melanie was drawn to coaching and leadership development because she is highly empathic, a powerful communicator, and a skilled problem solver in both individual and team settings. Her passion, commitment and sense of humor energize the coaching process and help facilitate positive personal and professional results for her clients.