“Melanie is a grower of people and businesses! I get more out of every hour I spend with her than I get out of any other meeting in a given week. Melanie can hear a business challenge, a story about something that is happening with personnel, or an experience I had, immediately put it in context in the business/nonprofit world, and ask probing questions that help me figure out what my next steps should be.  She encourages me to lead with both heart and accountability, which is a rare skill. She has begun coaching all of our revenue leaders at DonorsChoose, as well as helping facilitate sessions with them and their teams. She is indispensable!” 

"Melanie Rivera is a powerful speaker whose workshops encourage attendees to think deeply about their interpersonal dynamics—at work and beyond—and the role each of us plays in creating a more equitable world. As a guest speaker in FreeWill's webinar series, Melanie led a session for an audience with diverse roles and backgrounds. Many called it the best DEI webinar they’ve attended, sharing how her thoughtful perspective will influence their work and personal lives moving forward."

“It [Manager SLAM Fall ‘24] was very impactful and gave me a lot of important information that I will utilize in working with my team.”

“I absolutely loved the example work sheets Melanie provided. Hearing these examples are one thing but to have a visual is extremely helpful to me.”

“[The trainer] was awesome! I feel like everything was super applicable to my organization and the issues we face around management.”

I just felt really heard and seen and less alone. We have had some trouble on my team and being with people within and outside my organization who experience somewhat similar things felt comforting.

I loved how after each example or idea Melanie provided the "why" behind it. It didn't feel like information she was saying into the stratosphere, she made the impact tangible.

“Mel's ‘case studies’ or mini scenarios she brings into the trainings are so real and relevant - they really help us unpack how we are working together in a safer way by talking about other people in other companies. Mel is a credible outside leader who is able to help shine a light on challenges that can be harder for our own leadership team to do all the time.”

“As managers, we all tend to think we’re approachable, reasonable people that can be persuaded if an argument is sound. As a coach, I can tell you many of us are wrong about this. It’s not that we don’t listen - it’s that we don’t listen equally to everyone we manage.”

“Melanie Rivera, SPHR at Breaker28 is the best! Extremely insightful, razor sharp, direct, practical, inspiring-she makes me better every time we connect."

"Melanie Rivera, SPHR has been an excellent coach to me for over 3 years! Her support has been invaluable to me and many others!"

"Breaker 28 has a robust menu of trainings that can be tweaked and customized with the client in mind. The efficiency of not having to start from scratch but also to have the option to make sure the content fits organization is so helpful (and rare!). Mel is the best trainer that we have come across in the DEI/Culture/HR space. She is so wise, has great examples and content ehat can be difil . che is notchesitant to ugh out behaviors that need to change but does so with care. She models what she is teaching."

"Mel's training are always interactive, relevant, engaging, and meet our organizational objectives."