"A Powerhouse for Sustainable Growth."
Proposal for Terras Tuscany
"Dr van de Velde's research is outstanding and a worthy winner of the Adam Smith Prize for PhD Excellence"
Research Director
Centre for Social Innovation
Cambridge University
Workshop 'The Edge'
Inspire your participants with our award-winning, Cambridge University-endorsed insights and FORBES-praised tools, to create (even more) powerful impact, and a strong competitive edge.
​Sustainability leaders are often inundated with growing regulation and reporting requirements, and keeping up with the latest innovations. They rarely get the opportunity to step back and reflect on the bigger picture — on what matters most — how to use their resources for the greatest possible impact to boost business value and to truly transform our world.
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I believe Terras Tuscany has an incredible opportunity to offer even greater value to these leaders by providing this space with the right toolset. ​I'd be delighted to collaborate with you on delivering a unique workshop designed to ignite powerful conversations — underpinned by our Forbes-praised tools and Cambridge-endorsed insights — with three key aims:​​​​​​​
1. Gain valuable insights into questions that many are only beginning to consider​​​
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Why do some sustainability initiatives deliver 200–400% stronger impact returns than others?
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How can we tackle climate change and interconnected global issues like plastics, pollution, health, poverty, and social division most powerfully?
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What five key factors turn sustainability efforts into more significant business value and a stronger, authentic, competitive edge?​​
2. Ignite conversations that drive powerful impact
Drawing on best-in-class global examples leaders will engage in peer-to-peer discussions using our IMPACT Wheel tool. These conversations are designed to challenge conventional thinking and encourage reflection on their strengths and opportunities to invest limited time and resources for maximum return — both for people and planet, as well as for long-term business performance.​​​
3. Walk away with bold action(s) that strengthen your EDGE
Sustainability can drive significant business value — such as resilience, growth, productivity, and brand value. Yet not all organisations see the same results. So, why do some turn sustainability into a far stronger competitive edge than others? What are they doing differently? ​​
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In the second part of this workshop, participants will reflect on their strengths across the five key factors that define 'The Edge', and identify key opportunities to turn their sustainability efforts into stronger, authentic, competitive advantages and commercial benefits.
Outline
I suggest the following workshop outline — ideally on day 2 — with a brief sharing session as part of the closing on day 3. Happy to discuss!​​
​15 Minutes – The Big Picture
Setting the scene with key insights, inspiration and engagement in a large-circle.
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15 Minutes – The Rocking Chair
Re-connecting with purpose (peer-to-peer).
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30 Minutes – Powerful IMPACT
Using the IMPACT Wheel tool for powerful impact (peer-to-peer).
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30 Minutes – The Edge
Using The Edge tool to strengthen competitive advantages (peer-to-peer).
10 Minutes – Sharing
Share key insights and next steps as part of the overall closing session on day 3.
Pricing
To provide this workshop at this scale, my usual fee is £6,900 plus travel expenses — covering the value, preparation, time, tools and materials. However, as a conference attendee, I do not charge for travel time or expenses. So the total would come to £4,500, minus the cost of the Terras Tuscany ticket. I trust you'll find this to offer excellent value, but please don't hesitate to let me know if this works with your budget.​
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Food for thought
As we briefly discussed — you may like to encourage post-workshop action by turning it into an exciting competition — awarding prizes at a next conference to those who have made the biggest leaps in impact or their competitive edge!
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It would be my absolute pleasure and passion to provide an engaging, action-led workshop that leaves participants feeling inspired, with a renewed sense of purpose, and ready to make their next steps count the most toward a truly thriving planet and a peaceful future.​​
​​Ignite Conversations that Drive Impact
Testimonials
"A Powerhouse for Sustainable Growth. So much so, I had to have Mel on my FORBES Books Podcast to reveal her secrets."
David Radlo
FORBES Books
US
"I had the pleasure of Melanie opening our first international ESG city conference, held in Brazil.
Without a doubt, this was the highlight of the event."
Marcus Maida
Conference Director, TEDx Speaker, Lawyer, Business Consultant
Brazil
"Inspirational.
Melanie’s MPACT Wheel simplifies this immensely complex topic that we want to tackle together."
Jules Prick
Co-Founder Koos Service Design
The Netherlands
"A rare chance to escape regulation land and truly think together."
Zebunisa Ahmed
Sustainability Manager
Virgin Money
UK
"You have made a profound impact on my life.
Despite the popularity of ESG and sustainability, I have found it lacking in depth and workable solutions that genuinely make a substantial difference. Your insights opened my eyes and have not only deepened my understanding but also provided me with a clearer direction and inspiration to make a truly positive difference in the world."
Yue Shue
Executive MBA, Amazon
China
"Way more insightful than what you get elsewhere."
Jamie Davidson
Director Johnston Carmichael
UK
"Inspirational."
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Bee Lin Chow
Head of Asia Energy Analytics ICIS RELX
Singapore
"Amazing insights, this is the need of the hour."
Inir Pinheiro
Founder & CEO Grassroutes
India
"I came home bouncing after the sessions.
The UN SDGs used to feel overwhelming. Now they feel comfortable, and I can't wait to tackle them."
Merlijn Mazairac
CEO & Founder The Rookie Minds
The Netherlands
"Finally, a tool to help businesses create powerful social and environmental impact strategies."
Mark Fallows
Founder Fabrica Collective & The Impossible Network
US
Melanie van de Velde, PhD, MBA, MSc
​How to invest most powerfully in a better future?
Why do some create a 200 to 400% better impact return than others?
And create far more significant business value?​
Dr. Melanie van de Velde is a unique voice in the global sustainability movement. Her keynote talks and workshops deliver a compelling blend of big-picture thinking, thought-leading insights, real-world examples, and practical tools that empower leaders to drive meaningful impact — not just in climate action, but across the full spectrum of global challenges.
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Melanie's insights have been a pivotal moment for people ranging from CEOs, Sustainability Leaders, MBA executives, and professionals across industries. She combines cutting-edge research with deep practical experience, leaving audiences inspired and equipped with a clear direction for bold action.
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A Global Goals expert and founder of Big Tree Global, Melanie is recognized for her award-winning research on overcoming global challenges — honoured with the Adam Smith Prize for PhD Excellence, nominated by the Social Innovation Director at Cambridge University. Her book, Lead Like a Genius: How to Outgrow the Competition and Transform Our World, was described by Forbes Books as “a powerhouse for sustainable growth.”
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Melanie started her career leading Asia Pacific markets for a global tech giant. After subsequent senior management roles in technology companies, she switched paths to run a fashion enterprise empowering young women in the Kibera slum in Nairobi — an experience that fuelled her passion to research, develop and help scale practical, powerful solutions to our key global issues.
Dr van de Velde holds an award-winning PhD in Sustainability Strategy, an MBA with Distinction, and an MSc in Industrial Engineering.
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She is founder of the Global Goals Masters — a high-impact learning experience designed to empower organisations to harness employee energy and unlock stronger impact and business value.​​​
TEDxVUAmsterdam | April 2025
​YOU ARE BATMAN: The 3 choices that shape your future
