Featured Consultant: Melissa Newberry, Ph.D.

What are the primary skill sets you bring as a consultant? 
I am proactive in understanding the needs of clients when we start working together. It is important to understand their background, culture, and expectations before work begins. I come to the table with many potential solutions to a problem and work through the pro and cons of various approaches to the work. In each project I work on, I strive to understand the root causes and challenges that will drive us to a solution to the client’s need.
What’s your favorite part about being a consultant?
Watching research transform into positive change. I am motivated by helping others come to the solutions they need to implement based on applied research.
What do you see as the number one reason an organization should consider an external consultant?
External consultants are skilled at immersing themselves in organizations to enable advising on opportunities that had not been recognized internally. By building close relationships with stakeholders, consultants have the ability to be an objective advisor.
What do you see as the single largest difficulty organizations face?
Organizations are under immense pressure to compete with others in their industry while also keeping up with changing needs of their “customers” or people they serve.
What fictional organization would you most want to consult for?
Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital aka. Seattle Grace.
If you were a consulting superhero, what would your power be and how would you use it?
That would be nice! My power would be to guide stakeholders through the actions they need to take based on insights derived from research. The path to success would be clear and clients would feel that they shared in my superpowers, too.
What do you do outside of work?
I spend time with my family, do yoga, try new restaurants, and travel to new places.

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