ABOUT OUR FOUNDER – MARIA I. MELENDEZ
Maria I. Melendez is a visionary leader, founder, educator, speaker, and strategist dedicated to helping individuals and organizations build legacies that create meaningful impact. As the Founder and CEO of Embrace Her Legacy, Maria leads a national movement focused on empowering young women through leadership development, mentorship, career readiness, and transformative experiences designed to help them recognize their power and purpose.
In addition to her work with Embrace Her Legacy, Maria serves as the CEO of The Business Daycare, a boutique brand marketing agency helping personal brands, entrepreneurs, businesses, and nonprofits strengthen their storytelling, visibility, and growth strategies. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Long Island University, where she brings her real-world expertise in leadership, entrepreneurship, branding, and professional development into the classroom, preparing the next generation of leaders and changemakers.
A bilingual speaker, author, podcast host, brand strategist, women and girls leadership advocate, and mentor, Maria has built a career at the intersection of storytelling, education, media, and social impact. Her work has been recognized by leading platforms including FORBES, ESSENCE Magazine, and Latina.com, and she has delivered more than 100 keynote speeches, workshops, and leadership experiences. Her acclaimed TEDx talk, “A Time to Heal,” reflects her commitment to using storytelling as a catalyst for personal transformation and collective growth.
Before dedicating herself fully to purpose-driven work, Maria built a successful career in the music industry, gaining firsthand experience in entertainment, branding, media, and artist development. After stepping away from a high-profile role in the industry, she followed her calling to create opportunities for women and girls and to help leaders transform their ideas into movements. Today, she is affectionately known by clients, audiences, and her community as the “Inspirational Homegirl” — a reflection of her authentic, relatable, and transformative approach to leadership.
A proud Brooklyn native and Afro-Latina, Maria is a first-generation college graduate born to immigrant parents from Central America. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Hofstra University and her Executive Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Blending faith, transparency, authenticity, humor, and strategy, Maria’s work inspires people around the world to embrace their stories, lead with purpose, and create legacies that extend far beyond themselves. She is not just building organizations — she is shaping the next generation of leaders, storytellers, and change-makers.
For booking Maria I. Melendez for speaking engagements, keynote speeches or empowerment workshops, please fill out our speaker request form here.Â
Watch Her in Action Below: