HelpfulConversations.co creates innovative and inspiring internal communications programming.
program and event design. internal comms campaigns. message and campaign development. workshops and corporate training (that people actually want to engage with).
Internal communications programs are essential. 81% of employees would rather join a company that values “open communication” than one that offers great perks such as top health plans, free food, and gym memberships. Unfortunately, most employees don’t work in such companies. Only 15% of employees are “very satisfied” with the quality of communication within their companies. McKinsey found that 69 percent of organizations are doing more skill-building now than they did before the pandemic; Training magazine found that U.S. companies spent $82.5 billion on workplace training in 2020. But decades’ worth of data show most corporate training doesn’t work, especially when it comes to talk about difficult topics like DEIB, navigating the post #MeToo workplace, and mental health.
HelpfulConversations.co is a consulting practice that helps companies and organizations drive satisfaction and engagement through internal communications that employees actually like. Helpful conversations shift difficult conversations into meaningful interactions. They build community, reduce fear, and focus on solutions. Our team creates innovative events and programs that turn life’s hard topics into powerful ideas, content, and actions that build teams, shift behavior, and reduce stigma.
We’ve developed advocacy and behavior change campaigns covering tough issues, from gun violence to childhood vaccines, mental illness to reproductive rights. We are experts with a unique understanding of online community and digital-first strategic communications. Our team helped Hillary Clinton log on for her first Internet chat, and have launched marketing campaigns for three Presidential candidates, Malala Yousafzai, the United Nations Foundation, #GivingTuesday, Planned Parenthood Federation, and many other leading figures and organizations including the world’s largest NGO, the U.S’s largest financial corporation, the U.S’s largest advocacy organization, the U.S’s largest foundation, and America’s largest not for profit organization. We’ve built a global platform to reduce the stigma around talking about mental health.
How can we build helpful conversations together?
About Founder Morra Aarons-Mele
Morra Aarons-Mele is a movement builder. She’s an expert in helping people talk about hard things. Morra knows that taking your mental health seriously is a leadership strength, and her work won the Media Award from Mental Health America in 2023. She hosts The Anxious Achiever podcast for LinkedIn Presents, which won the 2023 Media Award from Mental Health America, was a 2020 Webby Awards Honoree, 2022 “Best Commute Podcast” Signal Award winner, and is frequently a top 10 management podcast and top 50 business podcast. She's passionate about helping people rethink the relationship between their mental health and their success. Her book, The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower, was published by Harvard Business Review Press in April 2023. Morra speaks to and consults frequently with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and U.S Government agencies. She is a LinkedIn "Top 10 Voice" in mental health and is shortlisted for the Thinkers50 2023 Distinguished Achievement in Leadership Award.
Morra Aarons-Mele is an entrepreneur and communications executive. In addition to her work in workplace mental health, Aarons-Mele founded the award-winning social impact agency Women Online and created its database of female influencers, the Mission List, which she sold in 2021. Morra is an expert in marketing who has been creating online campaigns since 1999. Morra was named 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year at the Iris Awards, created to recognize excellence among digital content creators. Before starting her own business, Morra worked in digital marketing and politics, helping Hillary Clinton log on for her first online chat. She has launched digital campaigns for President Obama, Malala Yousafzai, the United Nations, and many other leading figures and organizations. She helps clients create digital-first communications campaigns that inspire action and behavior change.
Aarons-Mele is also a prolific writer. Since 2004 she has covered the campaign trail, the White House, the lactation room, and the office cubicle. Her first book, Hiding in the Bathroom: How To Get Out There (When You'd Rather Stay Home), was published by Dey Street Books in 2017 and was an Amazon bestseller. She has written for the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Slate, InStyle, O, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Guardian. Aarons-Mele has degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and Brown University. She and Nicco Mele live in Boston with their three children.
As Seen In
Want to work together? Fill out: