en
Belgium
Connections made through WEConnect International often lead to practical, measurable impact inside global companies. Melanie Hussell, founder of Melanie Hussell Communication Coaching and a WEConnect International-certified women-owned business based in Brussels, helps professionals communicate their ideas with clarity and influence in high-stakes international environments. Her collaboration with Huber Engineered Materials demonstrates how access, expertise, and the right introduction can translate into business impact – in this case, better communication, stronger alignment, and smarter business decisions.
What my business does
At Melanie Hussell Communication Coaching, I help professionals and entrepreneurs express their ideas with clarity and influence. Through a blend of personalised coaching, an interactive online learning programme and an AI-powered speech coaching app, I support clients to communicate more effectively — no matter their role, industry, or English level.
Many of my clients speak English as a second or third language and work in high-stakes international environments where strong communication is essential. My approach helps them build structure, presence and confidence while overcoming challenges such as public speaking anxiety, visual storytelling and engaging diverse audiences.
How it started
I founded my business after a 16-year corporate career as a senior European Manager (Diageo, Osram, a Siemens subsidiary), followed by teaching Business English, specialising in presenting and pronunciation. Over the years, I saw brilliant professionals — often scientists, engineers and technical experts — struggle to get their ideas heard. They had the expertise but lacked effective strategies to share it.
This inspired me to create my Persuasive Presentations programme, designed to help professionals organise their message, connect with their audience and deliver it with impact.
The connection
I met Marianna Battain, Strategic Sourcing Manager at Huber Engineered Materials, at the 2024 WEConnect International Conference in Paris. It was especially significant for me, as I had just received my WEConnect International certification, opening doors to work with global organisations like Huber Engineered Materials.
Based in Belgium, Marianna is a multilingual Strategic Sourcing Manager responsible for supplier relationships, contract negotiations and stakeholder alignment across regions. Her values — communication, innovation and continuous learning — make her a natural leader. And, in line with her values, she recognised opportunities to make her presentations even more engaging and effective.
Marianna joined programme, using a combination of one-to-one coaching, a 12-module online course, and an AI speech coaching app she could use between meetings. This flexible format allowed Marianna to learn in short bursts between meetings and apply new techniques immediately.
One of her biggest “aha” moments came from learning how to think visually — creating slides that guide attention and strengthen the message.
The impact
Through our work together, Marianna transformed how she prepares and delivers presentations. As Marianna prepared her Global Procurement Strategy Q2 Update for leadership, the changes were clear:
“With small, simple tweaks, I’ve learned how to increase my impact when presenting,” Marianna shared. “I feel calmer, clearer and more in control.”
What WEConnect International made possible
This collaboration would not have happened without WEConnect International, which created the platform for Marianna and me to meet. Through the network, certified women-owned businesses like mine gain access to global corporates, enabling partnerships that deliver measurable results — not just for individuals, but for entire organisations.
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Melanie Hussell is based in Brussels, Belgium, and works with professionals across the globe. Learn more at: www.melaniehussell.com