Find Talent

To book Nell Merlino or for more information, please contact: Meghan Fennell (617) 252-2923 or Mel Blake (617) 252-2472.

"Nell Merlino is indefatigable--gets results that nobody thinks are possible. She and I have worked together ... on a couple of projects that are transforming the lives of women and I am not at all surprised that we are here on this occasion to further that dream. And whenever it comes to Nell Merlino you can count me in."

— Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States

"Nell is about empowering women. She says that we need to act with the knowledge that girls learn everything from watching us. And whatever world we want for our daughters, we have to start claiming for oursleves. In short: we have to believe in ourselves. And Nell has inspired millions to do just that."

— Susan Sobbott, President, American Express OPEN

"Nell Merlino's passionate commitment to creating a better world by empowering young girls and women with resources to set high goals and strive for excellence to reach their best potential is inspirational and very worthy of recognition."

— Patricia Hart

"Nell, you have changed my life forever in such a positive, uplifting way. You are my fairy godmother!!! Thank you for all you do for me and for women entrepreneurs."

— Gayla Bentley

Nell Merlino

Leading Advocate for Women’s Role in the Economy; Creator of Take Our Daughters to Work Day

BIG IDEAS

You Can Have it All as Long as You Don't Do It All: Breaking Through Isolation
As a leader of women entrepreneurs for more than a decade, Nell Merlino has observed several common traits that have prevented many potentially successful entrepreneurs from moving forward faster. Following the economic uncertainty of the past several years, many heads of organizations—both women and men—have an aversion to increasing the size of their employee base and expanding their capabilities. They often believe their path to success rests with their own efforts alone. By relinquishing control and opening their organization to new contributors, leaders gain access to diversity of thought, expansion of capabilities, a greater network of resource and more time for their families. A leader who understands and nurtures this, not only in themselves but in their employees, will be poised to grow an open organization with greater capacity for success.

Nell Merlino, founder of Count Me In and their Make Mine a Million $ Business program, helps entrepreneurs, leaders, and aspiring talent build the right team and expand the reach of their influence.
What Would the World Look Like if There Were Equality in Everything
As the global economy begins the process of regenerating from the turmoil of the past several years, structural changes in the workforce and the economy are beginning to surface. Women own over a third of all US small businesses and employee 23 million people. For the first time in history, America’s workforce is comprised of more women than men. This shift will be a driving force in the economic recovery and provide a source for creating new prosperity.

Learn lessons and insights from Nell Merlino, the creator of Take Our Daughter to Work Day, as she sets the path for women’s economic independence and greater stability for millions of families. Nell will challenge you to imagine a world with total gender equality and ask the important questions: What would equal pay mean to every community? What will happen when half of Fortune 500 leadership is female? What is the current impact of 55% of women providing half or more of their household's income on family life?

Offering practical advice to her audiences, Nell will help unleash the full capacity of women’s entrepreneurial spirit and the striking power of women’s economic potential.

SNAPSHOT BIO

Throughout her career, Nell Merlino has been inspiring millions of people to take action. Nell is founder, president, and CEO of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources for women to grow their micro businesses into million dollar enterprises through its signature program, Make Mine a Million $ Business. She is the creative force behind Take Our Daughters to Work Day, which moved more than 71 million Americans to participate in a day dedicated to giving girls the opportunity to dream bigger about their futures. Nell has worked on campaigns for the YWCA, The Week Without Violence, The United Nations’ Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and in two state governments. She was an advance woman in presidential campaigns, a union organizer, and a Fulbright Scholar, and has received numerous awards, including the Fulbright Award for Outstanding Achievement, The Forbes Trailblazer Award, and the Matrix Award for Achievement in Communications.

RECOMMENDED READING
What's on Nell's must-read list?

Independent Diplomat by Carne Ross (Cornell University Press) A must read, this book is a bone chilling and brilliant look at UN/Western diplomatic corp.

LA's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith (Pantheon)

Black and White Strike Gold by Sandi Webster and Peggy McHale (C2G Publishing) First book from winners of Make Mine a Million $ Business competition.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink (Riverhead Books)

One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakaruni (Voice Hyperion Books)

When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women by Gail Collins (Little Brown)

Don't Say I Didn't Warn You by Anita Renfroe (Voice Hyperion)

Megacommunities by Mary Gerencser, Reginald Van Lee, Fernando Napolitano and Christopher Kelly (Palgrave Macmillian)

Start with WHY by Simon Sinek (Portfolio)