admin Believing in your own potential despite the disbelief of others is a talent only few women can master. Melody Hossaini, the Founder and CEO of InspirEngage International is one such rare gem. Melody was 2 years old when the war in Iran started. Living through a difficult childhood in Sweden and England, Melody decided that instead of willowing in her sorrow, she wanted to find something positive where she could invest her energy and potential. At the age of 13, she became a co-founder of UK Youth Parliament. She spent her weekends sitting in the Houses of Parliament deciding how to give young people a voice. These 11 years of volunteering were an unmatched learning experience for her.
Instrumentalizing Experience
Melody established InspirEngage International in her room, with £0 and only a Hotmail email account. Her wealth of experience was the key to the venture. After years of volunteering, clients wanted to pay her to work with them. InspirEngage is a People Development and Mindset Training company, building human potential. Melody designed training content that teaches people to adopt a growth mindset and emotional intelligence and currently offers individuals coaching online. The venture currently has a portfolio in 100 countries and has reached 1 million+ people and clients, including Facebook, Philips, and Oxford University, with appearances in Forbes, Huffington Post, and the BBC.
I believe that sharing ownership and engagement is key to people feeling a part of something- to feel closer to the purpose – Melody Hossaini
The Motivational Impetus
Melody’s unwavering pillar of inspiration remains her mother. She moved to England alone with three children under 12. She gained her third university degree aged 50. Her mother taught them ‘no one owes you anything. You have to work hard and be independent.’ This life lesson guides Melody in all her endeavors. She derives her relentless motivation from the incredible people across the world with whom she has had the opportunity to work with. “Those who have nothing, but yet want to give back. They make me do what we do” asserts Melody.
Refuting Stereotypes
Countering the assumptions that a startup can’t get international contracts, Melody established a successful global venture in no time. She believes that it pays off to be a little delusional and not paying heed to everything the world tells you, you can’t do.
Women’s Leadership is Simply Effective Leadership
Melody Hossaini is a staunch believer in the power of effective leadership. She delineates the key elements of effective leadership as emotional intelligence, empathy and communication. She asserts, “Women leadership is leadership! Just by a woman! So when we speak about effective leadership, I believe it applies to all.” However, if one is to ponder the question of why are women outnumbered by men along the higher executive ranks of the professional arena, we must assess the archaic views of society that promote a gendered separation of roles and tasks. This is the reason for the skewed representation of women in senior management positions.
Learn from others – but focus on what you are doing. I am in competition with my own best –Melody Hossaini
Harmonizing the Personal and Professional Lives
Striking a healthy work-life balance can be an arduous task for many professional women, especially those helming the reigns of a formidable venture. Melody propounds, “I have two children: Kian (6) and Arielle Persia (3) who are my priority and I have been extremely lucky to have been at a point in my career that I could take time to be with them in these important early years. I would not trade this for the world.” However, she does accede to the fact that the balancing act can sometimes affect one’s career. “You’re only one person, and something has to give- but if you build something well enough, you can return to it when you want.”
Innovation Driven by Covid
The Covid impact has produced repercussions in all aspects of the business world. Melody asserts, “Our sector of professional speaking and training has become non-existent in physical form- but it’s been fascinating to see how the sector has adapted. Sometimes a change has to be forced and along comes innovation- and I am excited by the coaching programmes we are running online, and are reaching more people than ever in a way.”
Magazine 
