Testimonials

 Can you imagine having a solid corporate job, sitting in an airport on a business trip, and deciding to forsake all your security to start a non-profit? That’s how Melanie Moore took her plunge into the unknown. And the world is better for it.

A lot of people have ideas. Many people know how to be hard workers. But few combine vision, the ability to focus their energy and a certain spark of genius to make something great happen. It wasn’t long after I met Melanie that I realized she had it all in one package. In fact, I was so charmed by her that I joined her team and stayed on the Badgerdog board for the maximum term of six years. Every year I knew her, I became more amazed at her ability to maintain her cool in spite of every obstacle she encountered, to keep the faith, and to deliver results.

I am so glad to know that she is now mentoring others. If you want advice about how to up your game and change your life, she’s the source you need.

–Forrest Preece, Philanthropist and Arts Patron

 The heights to which Melanie took Badgerdog give me vertigo but they don’t surprise me.  From the beginning she was absolutely clear about what it would take to place Badgerdog on firm footing that would outlast us all:  internal transparency of processes and expectations, cagey positioning in the marketplace, gathering talent at every level of the organization, seizing on opportunities when they arose, keeping her team motivated.

Part of that motivation came from the way she taught us.  She always trusted those of us with classroom experience to work out best practices for the education program, but she was the best kind of teacher, the one who cares deeply about the success of her students.  Part of that, obviously, came from our shared investment in the success of the organization – we were building our livelihoods!  But, I believe her desire to see us succeed also came from her goodness.  There’s just no other word for it.  She approached us with respect, even when we had so much to learn, she saw our potential and she invested in it knowing full well we would each take our own path sooner or later.  When I think back on all the teachers and mentors who have touched my life, she is at the very top.  I still draw on her advice and on lessons learned in our work together.  I know that much of my ability to succeed in the adult world outside of the academy has come from her.  But she has also taught me to give freely to those around me, to enjoy the success of my team as if it were my own, to study those around me until I see their talents and then give what I can to develop those talents.  Most of all, she taught me to be tough through faith, to believe things will come together, somehow, to realize what we dream into the world.

It’s a testament to her leadership that Badgerdog could be handed over to others.  I say this with a clear memory of our beginnings, when the Badgerdog offices existed in our heads and in her little car and we worked so hard to just ensure the next semester of programming and ASF seemed a distant dream.

She is badass.

–Farid Matuk, Poet and Translator

 “A Legendary hero is a founder of something…,” said Joseph Campbell and I am glad to have one such hero within my close circle. Melanie followed her dream from a well-paying stable business development job in high tech to establish Badgerdog Publishing, Inc.–growing from nothing to a recognized force in literary circles while doing tremendous service to Austin’s underserved children by empowering them to author their lives.
I have spent enough time brainstorming with Melanie over many personal and professional areas and have always found her to be a perfect facilitator and coach. I have come out saying I understand my own position better. Beyond my own experience, I have seen her work with other people; her mentorship has developed leaders in Badgerdog and beyond.
“Author your life,” is a simple Badgerdog tag line, but imagine the potential. I would trust Melanie to help you “Author your life.”

–Shakeel Rashed, Vice President, Solutions, at eForce