Women's History Month Keynote Speaker
What Women Face at Work—And What We Can All Do About It
A Women's History Month keynote that brings people together through comics, honest conversation, and creative exercises that help everyone imagine change.
I'm a speaker, author, and visual artist, and my signature keynote uses comics I've drawn to open up candid conversations about gender and leadership. My keynotes guide audiences through 8–10 of these comics—each one grounded in research and designed to spark honest reflection and discussion.
In an interactive keynote or longer workshop version, audience members pick up a pen, and I guide them through simple doodling exercises to create their own comic. Even those who are hesitant about drawing often find it cathartic, empowering, and a creative way to imagine change.
40-minute excerpt of the core content — the story of why I use comics to talk about gender equity, a walkthrough of reader-favorite comics, and how this methodology creates space for honest conversation. Each keynote is customized based on your audience and goals, drawing from my collection of 50+ comics on women in leadership.
Recorded at Washington University in St. Louis in 2024 (in-person keynote with livestream option) - audience of students, faculty, administrators, and staff
Watch a sample keynote in action
Beyond Leaning In: The Book
My book, Beyond Leaning In: Gender Equity and What Organizations Are Up Against, is a deeper exploration of the ideas in my comics—written as a novel that follows characters navigating real workplace challenges. Described by Kirkus Reviews as "an engaging evolution of Sheryl Sandberg's 'Lean In' mantra," the fictional case study format is designed to spark conversation across genders and generations about the hidden biases that professional women continue to face.
The book has become a discussion guide for book clubs, leadership teams, and professional development programs looking for an accessible, story-driven way to explore gender equity. Bulk discounts are available upon request.
Why this work matters now
Gender equity work is facing headwinds. Many women and allies are navigating shifting cultural conversations about women's roles and progress in the workplace. Organizations are pulling back on DEI initiatives, and leaders who care about this work may feel uncertain about how to move forward. But Women's History Month remains a critical opportunity to recommit—not just to celebrating women's achievements, but to honestly examining the barriers that persist and what it takes to remove them.
This session provides a thoughtful, research-backed approach that makes these important conversations engaging and actionable.
About Melanie Ho
Melanie Ho, Ph.D., is an independent speaker, facilitator, visual artist, and founder of Strategic Imagination LLC. Applauded by Film Daily as "one of the most empowering authors and visual artists right now," she's created over 50 comics exploring workplace barriers for women and authored Beyond Leaning In: Gender Equity and What Organizations Are Up Against—a leadership book written as a novel and and recipient of the 2022 Axiom Award recognizing the best business books.
In writing the book, Melanie drew from hundreds of conversations with women across industries, research on organizational behavior, and her own experience becoming a corporate executive in her thirties. She began her career teaching literature, visual culture, and leadership at UCLA while earning her Ph.D. in English, and later served as Senior Vice President at EAB, where she led a team of over 100 researchers.
Today, she blends her backgrounds as an educator, executive, and artist to create sessions that make complex challenges accessible and emotionally resonant—often using comics, metaphors, and creative exercises to spark insight and action.
