Melissa Dinwiddie | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Current position (1)

Founder/CEO

Creative Sandbox Solutions™

Degrees (3)

Cultural Studies

University of Birmingham, England

1992 to 1993

Social Science Field

UC Berkeley

1985 to 1989

Dance

The Juilliard School

1986 to 1987

Bio

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Short Bio

Melissa Dinwiddie helps leaders and teams in complex environments unlock creativity and drive innovation—through playful, high-impact keynotes and workshops. A former professional artist, she’s worked with Google, Meta, and Salesforce, and is the author of The Creative Sandbox Way™.

Full Bio

Melissa Dinwiddie is an innovation strategist and keynote speaker who helps leaders and teams in complex, change-driven environments unlock creativity, improve collaboration, and build cultures of rapid learning. Her signature Create the Impossible™ framework—developed after working with teams at Google, Meta, and Salesforce—shows even the most analytical minds how to spark innovation through play, imperfection, and experimentation.

A former professional artist, Juilliard-trained dancer, jazz singer/songwriter, performing improviser, and recovering perfectionist, Melissa weaves humor, neuroscience, and interactive experiences into every keynote and workshop, helping audiences move from creative paralysis to bold action. Her book The Creative Sandbox Way™ has been used by organizations worldwide to jumpstart fresh thinking and build creative confidence.

When she’s not on stage, you’ll find her writing songs, teaching improv, or trying to keep her mischievous cats off her desk.

Presentations

Presentations (3)

* 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™.

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. Can be customized for different time slots (45-90 minutes)

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* Playfully Human: Reclaiming Creativity in the Age of AI*

What happens when a machine can write, draw, compose, or code better—and faster—than you can? For many professionals, AI is triggering a full-blown creative identity crisis. Others are rushing in so fast, they forget to bring their selves with them.

In this provocative and energizing keynote, Melissa Dinwiddie—artist, improviser, and innovation strategist—invites your audience to reframe AI not as a threat, but as a creative collaborator. Drawing on her Create the Impossible™ framework (Play Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast), Melissa shows how to tap into what makes us irreplaceably human, even in an AI-driven world.

Through engaging stories, interactive moments, and laugh-out-loud exercises, your audience will confront their fears, dismantle perfectionism, and learn how to stay in the driver’s seat—curious, courageous, and creatively alive.

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* 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 can be customized for different time slots and tailored to specific industries.

Workshops (1)

Communicating for Influence™

Full day

Transform how your teams convey ideas, so valuable insights actually land and drive impact.

Past talks (6)

Creating the Impossible: Unleashing Innovation in Project Management

PMI - Chattanooga Chapter

Virtual

July 2, 2025

Creating the Impossible: Unleashing Innovation in Project Management

PMI - Silicon Valley Chapter

Virtual

July 2, 2025

Creating the Impossible: Unleashing Innovation in HR

NHRMA 2025

Anchorage, AK

September 26, 2025

Communicating for Influence™: A Taste of the Toolkit

American Marketing Association - New Jersey

Virtual

October 8, 2025

The Good, The Bad, The Reimagined (in Business)

Applied Improvisation Network Global Conference

Vancouver, BC

July 27, 2024

Storytelling for Nonprofit Leaders

Palo Alto Community Foundation

Palo Alto, CA

May 8, 2024

All (8)
Videos (5)
Photos (2)
One sheet (1)

Melissa Dinwiddie | Speaker Demo Reel 2025

Unlocking Leadership with Art

NSA NC Storytelling Competition - March 16, 2024

Melissa Dinwiddie - Mini Keynote The Power of Storytelling for Nonprofits - PACF

5-Minute Excerpt: Creative Sandbox Way™

Speaking for 100 nonprofit leaders at Palo Alto Community Fund's annual grantee gathering

Need a virtual presenter? Virtual is a specialty—companies have hired me to *design* their virtual experiences!

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Books & Articles (8)

The Creative Sandbox Way™: Your Path to a Full-Color Life

Pluralite Press,

2016

10 Fool-Proof Keys to Creative Flow

Why You Should Embrace Your Creative Blocks

Distracted When You Meditate? Here's Why You Should Do a Happy Dance

Stop Aiming for Perfection: Can You Let Good Enough Be Good Enough?

Finding a Window of Opportunity When Life Closes a Door

Stop Comparing: No One Can Do a Better Job of Being You

Why Life Is A Lot More Fun When We Stop Trying to Be Perfect

Clients

Northwest Human Resources Management Association (NHRMA)

American Marketing Association (New Jersey)

Project Management Institute (PMI) Silicon Valley

Madecraft

Project Management Institute (PMI) Chattanooga Chapter

Salesforce

The Marketing Arm

Google

Cricut

Providence Healthcare

Awards & certifications (1)

Strategic Play® Facilitator Development Award

Strategic Play® Group Limited

2018

Reviews

Testimonials (1)

You totally wowed the room, with your particular alchemy of neuroscience, exemplar story and interactivity. You truly made every minute count in the brief time allotted. I received a number of comments about how valuable it was... And on top of all that - it was fun!
Lisa Van Dusen
Executive Director
Palo Alto Community Fund
Storytelling Talk for Nonprofit Leaders
08/05/2024

Personal Details

Bio

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Presentations

Books & Articles (8)

Expertise (20)

Clients

Awards & certifications (1)

Reviews