Coaching

My Coach Approach

Melissa Johnson Hewitt is a professional coach trained by CoachDiversity Institute. Her work is grounded in strengths based theory and nurtured with her analysis and lived experience around race, class, and privilege. She is a daughter of the American South and was born and raised in a rural mountain community. A trained social worker with decades of experience as a nonprofit executive and philanthropic organizer and strategist, she is a true collaborator and confidant to her clients.

Coaching can provide the unique space and time one needs to navigate, assess, and create deeper alignment between your personal and professional journeys. If you are anticipating, currently navigating, or recently completed a season of change, FMC can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

FMC’s coaching practice specializes in supporting mid-career professionals, nonprofit leaders, senior executives, entrepreneurs, and activists who struggle with sustainability, self-care, and embracing their power to live and work from their most authentic place. As an expert in diversity and inclusion, Melissa often provides coaching for clients that aim to transform their lives by fully embracing their whole selves and centering their values in all that they do.

Services include:

  • Individual Coaching
  • Team Coaching
  • Coaching for Co-Executive Directors
  • Coaching with Executive Directors & Board Chairs
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Testimonials

“Melissa has changed my life in immeasurable ways. Her support and guidance have helped me pull out of the darkest time in my entire career, when I've been riddled with self-doubt and fear. She's helped me find my way back to the light and back to my true nature. Melissa's coaching has helped me achieve one of my most important and intimate goals: to accept myself, protect myself, love myself, and factor myself into the equation. I know my worth. And, thanks in large part to her, I am on a path toward leaving a former version of myself behind, transitioning out of a role/identity, and cultivating a life that feels balanced, healthy, sustainable, and right. I'm endlessly grateful.”

“I have just started a new position as an Executive Director and I immediately thought of Melissa Hewitt. I had the pleasure of working with her briefly in 2019 and it was transformative. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts, frustrations, challenges, etc and receive her feedback and new ways of seeing it.” 

"One of my greatest highlights from last year was having the opportunity to work with Melissa Hewitt. She is such a brilliant, compassionate, and inspiring coach. Her deep expertise in organizational development coupled with her commitment to social justice is absolutely refreshing. I would not hesitate to continue to work with her again."

"Forward Movement Consulting came into my life at a moment when I was in need of a coach to help me think through the next steps in my professional career. Melissa was patient, a phenomenal lister, and provided practical tools that allowed me to both envision the future I wanted and take the necessary steps to make it a reality. My sessions with Melissa were liberating, affirming, grounding in an instant truth and trust — and ultimately led to my transition to a new position that’s a direct reflection of our goal setting work together. Thank you for everything!"

"At the end of 2018 I was drawn into a time of prayer and discernment to uncover a new aspect of my divine calling and I needed help to process what God wanted me to do. During this season of transition and discovery I found Forward Movement Consulting. I have known Melissa from childhood but wasn't very familiar with coaching. After speaking with her about coaching I knew coaching could be a resource to help me uncover this new call. I began meeting with her regularly and the more I met with her I began to see what God was calling me to do. The art of coaching was manifested in her ability to listen, reflect back what she heard, encourage me to go deeper, encourage me to hear what I said, and think about what's next. The transition was scary, but her support helped me navigate through it. I recommend her as a person that is full of love and compassion. A person that is supportive, encouraging and isn't afraid to push you to reach your goals. Your life will be better because of the gifts she offers through coaching!"

"I was new to a leadership role in my organization and looking for a coach who could help me figure out how to make sure I could balance the needs of my new team with my own needs to be able to grow and flourish at my organization. As a Black woman, I was specifically looking for a coach who understood the unique challenges and experiences people of color can face in leadership roles, and Melissa Hewitt was the perfect coach! Working with her is like getting to have "work therapy" where I could talk through challenges I was facing and get an objective perspective and guidance on how to work through them, and be able to work through a race equity lens. As a result of our sessions, I was able to lean into my leadership skills confidently, and my direct supervisor noted how much more effectively I've been able to lead my team as a result of our sessions. I highly recommend working with Melissa!"

"I was lucky enough to begin working with Melissa as my Executive Coach as I took on a role as a first time Executive Director in the midst of a global pandemic. Melissa was always able to offer a listening ear and very practical and transferable advice that allowed me to fully embrace my power as an Executive Director. She always struck a balance of offering me support and encouragement while gently pushing me to own my role and power accordingly. I cannot recommend her enough for those taking on new, exciting and daunting roles!"