How future ready are you?
Melissa Crawford is a forward-thinking expert in future technologies, people psychology, and strategic foresight.
Melissa Crawford didn't find resilience in a classroom, she lived it. Growing up as one of six children, moving through 13 schools and over 40 houses, she learned early that the only constant is change. That lived experience of navigating uncertainty became the foundation for a career spent helping leaders do exactly the same.
Today, Melissa is one of the most distinctive voices at the intersection of future technology, human psychology, and strategic foresight. With two technology degrees, a Master of Science in Psychology underway, and formal foresight training from the Institute for the Future and the University of Houston, she brings genuine academic depth to the stage, not just trend-spotting. A certified futurist, member of the Association of Professional Futurists, and chartered member of both the Institute of Directors and HRNZ, Melissa has worked with some of New Zealand's most recognised organisations, including Air New Zealand, BNZ, Fonterra, Warehouse Group, Woolworths and ASB, now operating globally through her company Tech with Heart.
What sets Melissa apart is her rare ability to make the future feel both urgent and human. She doesn't just talk about what's coming, she equips boards, executives, and leaders with the strategic foresight to act on it. Recognised on the HRD Hotlist multiple times, named HR Leader and HR Person of the Year, and most recently awarded the Emerging Directors Award from the Institute of Directors, Melissa brings a track record that's as compelling as her ideas.
Talking Points
Your Digital Body Language: What message are you really sending to other humans…and AI
In today’s world of work the majority of our business communication is now digital (email, text, comms channels, mobile ph, online meetings, social media platforms). Since the days of learning about body language, we have not been given a communication upgrade to understand the impact of the digital transition and as a result we are getting unintended consequences. This insightful and humorous talk will outline the subtle elements of digital communications and the developing norms on business culture. Looking at the key elements that if better understood have the power to reduce burnout, increase trust, increase productivity, improve connection and psychological safety in the workplace. What message are you really sending and what breadcrumbs are you leaving AI that paint a picture of you that you might not be intending.
Your Digital Body Language: What message are you really sending to other humans…and AI
Future of Work: The intersection of People Psychology and Future Technology
The future will be about optimising the best of technology and the best of people. In the last few years many have upskilled themselves on evolving tech trends such as Chat GPT and CoPilot with the clear directive that those that don’t will be left behind. But few have put the same time into upskilling themselves on the more complex developments happening in the human space and understanding the waves of change these technologies are bringing to the way we communicate, behave and evolve. This session will delve into evolving tech and people trends and the shifting dynamics this creates. Being future ready will require a deeper curiosity across Technology and People, in this session, Melissa hopes to spark that curiosity.
Future of Work: The intersection of People Psychology and Future Technology
Future Ready Leadership: Are you future fit?
The future is not waiting for leaders to catch up.Future Ready Leadership: Are you future fit?
As technology accelerates and the workforce continues to shift, the role of a leader is being redefined in real time. This session explores what it truly means to be a future-ready leader, moving beyond skills and into mindset, behaviour, and decision-making in an increasingly complex world.
Drawing on insights from emerging technology, human psychology, and strategic foresight, Melissa challenges leaders to rethink how they show up, what they prioritise, and how they prepare their people for what’s coming next.
From Generative AI to Agentic AI to Physical AI: The robots are coming
AI is no longer just generating content. It is starting to act, decide, and move.From Generative AI to Agentic AI to Physical AI: The robots are coming
As we shift from generative AI to agentic AI and now into the era of physical AI, the implications for organisations, work, and leadership are profound. This session explores what these shifts really mean beyond the headlines, from autonomous decision-making to the rise of intelligent machines operating in the physical world.
Drawing on insights from emerging technology, human psychology, and strategic foresight, Melissa cuts through the noise to help leaders understand what is coming, what it changes, and how to respond before it arrives.
Connection: Humanity in a digital world
We have never been more connected, yet many have never felt more disconnected. Machines are getting better at simulating connection, while humans are getting worse at sustaining it. As technology continues to reshape how we communicate, from messaging to AI-generated interactions, the nature of human connection is shifting in subtle but significant ways. This session explores what is changing, what it means for relationships and workplaces, and challenges leaders to consider what implications this has for the way they need to adjust their leadership to be future fit.
Connection: Humanity in a digital world
Keynote or Workshop: Preparing for the Future of work - The shifting forces of disruptive technology and evolving human needs
This session is designed to get audiences thinking beyond the current state and thinking ahead. With a people and technology viewpoint, distinct changes are on the horizon. Is your organisation ready, are you ready?Keynote or Workshop: Preparing for the Future of work - The shifting forces of disruptive technology and evolving human needs
Target Audience: Executives, Senior Leadership, Senior HR Leaders, Innovation drivers, Learning curious leaders, Executive Coaches
Key Takeaways:
- Future technology trends impacting the world of work
- The changing shape and requirements of our workforce
- Keeping future fit
Format: Keynote or Workshop
Keynote or Workshop: Future Technologies: The beginners guide to future Technologies
This session is designed as a stimulating introduction to the leading future technologies. Demystifying the terms and definitions and real-life examples of their current and potential uses. An engaging session crossing exciting developments in the future tech space and thought-provoking encouragement into preparing your business and personal skillsets to thrive in this changing world. Keynote or Workshop: Future Technologies: The beginners guide to future Technologies
Target Audience: Anyone interested in keeping current on future technologies
Key Takeaways:
- Future Technologies now and in the future
- How embedded these technologies already are in our day-to-day lives
- Technology for good, examples of disruptive technologies that people are fearful of and how they are being used for good
Our members left energised, challenged in the best possible sense, and talking about how they will take what you shared into their own leadership decisions. That is the impact we aim for in ... keep reading CEO Institute
Melissa’s session on "The Psychology of Digital Communication" at our Future of Marketing Summit New Zealand was both insightful and transformative. Beyond her expertise, she was an absolute pleasure to work with - always responsive, collaborative, and genuinely kind. Her warmth and professionalism made the entire process seamless, and it was clear she truly cared about delivering value to our audience.
Melissa brings a remarkable blend of warmth, professionalism, and insight to her conversations. In our corporate setting, her ability to engage authentically while introducing thought-provoking and sometimes challenging ideas created an atmosphere that was both inspiring and enjoyable. The afternoon spent with her was not only intellectually stimulating but also genuinely uplifting
We recently had Melissa present to our team, a group of 80 and a real mix of functional experience and levels. Melissa's presentation had the entire audience engaged and energised. She has a lovely way of making emerging tech accessible, using storytelling to help the audience see the application in everyday life. Melissa is clearly passionate about her topic, highly driven to invest in her knowledge and is a thoroughly likeable human. She has natural warmth and humour so if you are looking for an interesting session that gives provocation and a safe space for the audience to think differently, I highly recommend her.
Melissa is a rare speaker who combines deep tech expertise with human-centred delivery and empathy. She can take a complex subject (like the metaverse) and conjure a 'do not ignore' future relevant to any industry. Melissa is a must have speaker for any conference organiser who wants a thought provoking and insightful keynote on their programme
Thank you for a fantastic session with our team. You left the group inspired and very thoughtful with your engaging storytelling and data insights. You made an unknown topic very accessible and gave people the confidence to ask questions and be open to learning. Thank you.’ You definitely sparked some thinking with the team, with the conversations continuing for days after referencing the session.
The outcome we wanted from the workshop was to ignite reflection and some aha moments about how in reality we are positioned for the future as individual leaders, as a collective and as an organisation. Melissa delivered on this outcome 110% - the content was engaging, thought provoking and provocative in the right kind of way. Feedback from leaders includes: "I'm still buzzing", "This was a breath of fresh air", "this is just what we need". It has prompted some real reflection that people can go away and build on.
We have utilised Melissa's expertise as a presenter and a panellist at our last three conferences across New Zealand and Australia due to both her engaging content and style. A crowd favourite Melissa's content is always relevant, current and thought provoking with a future focus that pushes people to think ahead. Her brand of Tech with Heart is exactly why we like working with her as she manages to weave the intersection of future technology and people psychology to help her audience understand why both will play such a critical role in our future.
Melissa wowed the crowd with a taste of the future - the metaverse of workplaces was a fascinating topic. She demonstrated her metaverse experiences on the conference screen which made it real. I look forward to working with her again.
