Melanie Ida Chopko

GRAPHIC FACILITATOR

San Francisco, CA

SUMMARY

Melanie Ida Chopko has been working in the field of systems change and strategic dialogue since 2007, translating complex ideas into simple images to create extra-ordinary results. Her work as a graphic recorder has been used to support keynote presentations and conversations on organizational and business strategy, visioning, sales, clean energy, and women’s leadership.

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RELEVANT EXPERIENCE & BACKGROUND

Melanie’s training includes completion of: Michelle Boos-Stone’s Graphic Recording Bootcamp, training with the Academy for Coaching Excellence & Interchange Counseling Institute, and achieving “Mudansha” (ranking student) status at Aikido of Berkeley. She is a graduate of Eugene Lang College, The New School, Melanie holds and holds an interdisciplinary degree in cultural studies and visual art. She writes and plays music, creates watercolors, and often spends weekends sitting alongside the ocean. She plays American and Brazilian folk music, and is fascinated by Chinese medicine. In 2015 she recorded her first record of original songs performed on guitar and piano.

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

I’ve worked with graphic recorders over many years, because they make an invaluable contribution to my presentations. Years later, I can look at their depiction of what I’ve said and it all comes back, and I know this is how participants also are able to recall the essence of what I spoke…Melanie has that necessary but rare combination of being able to listen deeply, excerpt the key points, and then quickly translate that into images…I recommend her without reservation.
– Margaret J. Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science.

Creative, responsive, dedicated, flexible, joyful, and able to deeply listen as ideas emerge, Melanie created three visuals which are THE most valuable artifacts I could imagine…It was a pleasure to work with Melanie and I would happily hire her again in a heartbeat.
– David Shaw, Director Common Ground Center, University of California

Melanie brings a level of visual and facilitative creativity and flexibility that not only is crucial for our work, but also aligns with our values. EAP as an organization and leadership network strives to provide space for deep reflection and working with Melanie has meant we can record those insights and share out learnings.
– Katherin Canton, Co-Director, Emerging Arts Professionals San Francisco / Bay Area

Melanie has the killer combination of amazing artistic talent with an innate business sense. She’s an attentive listener, and her work channels both the spirited creative side and the focused, results-driven side. Looking forward to collaborating with her on future projects!
– Director, SideHustleNation.com

RECENT CLIENTS

AribaLIVE
Bioneers
Buck Institute
Disney
Google
Kaiser Permanente
Lincoln Motor Company
PwC
TEDx Berkeley 
Visa

EDUCATION

BA | Eugene Lang College

INSPIRATIONS

Chinese Medicine
Folk Music