Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa May.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Melissa. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I’ve been a television producer for twenty years, most notably producing “Larry King Live” on CNN. I produced shows everywhere from the White House to Camden Yards to a Navy submarine. I covered 9/11, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, JonBenet Ramsey and everything in between. I met Liz Taylor and Liza Minnelli and Eric Clapton.
I was privileged to have a front row seat to history and to tell stories that riveted the world. It was the best job in the world! Until it wasn’t. The unrelenting pressure of producing a show watched live around the world every single night took a catastrophic toll on my health. My body completely shut down one day, and I couldn’t sit up or get out of bed. After being diagnosed with a serious illness, I knew I had to make a drastic change.
After ten years, I left the security of CNN and jumped into the spectacularly unsure world of freelancing. ABC News welcomed me with open arms and sent me to Aruba to cover the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and New Orleans for the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After covering the heartbreaking mass shooting at Virginia Tech, I realized it was finally time for me to get off the wild rollercoaster of “breaking news.”
In my ongoing quest to tell stories, I went on to launch “Snapped” and several other true-crime shows for Investigation Discovery. I also returned to New Orleans to produce a Hurricane Katrina documentary with the National Guard for History and rebuilt an elderly woman’s storm-ravaged home there for Dr. Phil. Producing great content continued to take a toll. It required a lot of time away from home and infinite energy to negotiate unfamiliar settings and situations.
As I continued to push myself, my body continued to rebel. After each trip, I would often be forced to spend days in bed before I was strong enough to walk again. Never one to focus on my own story, I hid this from everyone except my family and closest friends, often to my own detriment. As a journalist, the best part of my job has always been finding the stories the world needs to hear.
When I launched Piercing Blue Productions, my tagline sort of wrote itself. Life is a series of stories. And every story wants to be told. I’ve worked with rock stars, Hollywood legends, best-selling authors, heads of state and several U.S. Presidents. I’ve interviewed hundreds of people, many of them just ordinary people on the worst day of their life or as they recounted that day later. Plane crashes, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, parents whose children were kidnapped and murdered.
Those are the ones who have inspired me the most, the ones who are able to find their voice even when they have lost so much. As I continue to navigate the world with a chronic debilitating disease, I’ve gotten a bit better at telling my own story. My boundaries continue to evolve, but my desire to help others share their messages successfully has never waned. After working with a non-profit executive for several years, I found a world outside of television that I was ready to explore.
I became a certified executive coach and am now known as The Executive’s Producer. I use my real life experiences in the TV world to help clients tell their own stories with confidence and authenticity. I also teach my clients to speak, pitch and present clearly whether on camera, on stage, on a job interview or just on a regular Tuesday.
As Warren Buffett says, “One easy way to become worth 50% more than you are now is to hone your communication skills.” And who doesn’t want that?
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If anyone’s career has been a smooth road, it’s probably time to find a different path! Challenges and obstacles are what help us grow.
My health issues have always been my biggest challenge but leaving a high-profile corporate job for self-employment is a close second.
I thrive outside of my comfort zone but continually evolving and rebranding to keep up with the world definitely isn’t for the faint of heart.
Being passionate about what you do and confident in the value you bring to others is a must.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
What do I do?
I help clients communicate with impact via strong storytelling, strategic communication, and powerful presentation. I help you perfect your delivery and style. I show you how to navigate a stage or an interview with a reporter. I help you tell your best story.
• Executive Communications
• Communication Strategy
• Message Development
• Media & Presentation Training
• Job Interview preparation
• Media Relations
• Content Creation
• Storytelling
My tagline is Every executive needs a producer. What does that mean? The most recognizable TV stars in the world have a secret weapon like me just out of sight. Ellen has producers. Oprah has producers. Larry King has producers.
Lester Holt has producers. Morning show hosts have producers. Producers make sure the people in front of the camera or audience are prepared with the proper information, scripts, research, etc. to communicate effectively and have a meaningful impact on those watching.
What am I known for?
Public speaking and talking to the media sparks fear in a lot of people. I’ve coached hundreds of people to confidently share their messages on camera and on stage, so I am able to identify and develop the individual style for each client that is authentic, comes naturally and will be most effective.
I also prepare clients for any crisis that might arise so they can confidently work through it without breaking stride. If you want to look like a pro to your audience, stay calm when the lights go out, or your microphone dies.
What am I proud of?
So many things!
1) When a client repeats what you say to him: You may have the best story, but the better storyteller always wins.
2) When a business client successfully interviews a controversial former President on stage in front of 7000 people.
3) When a client realizes the value of telling stories.
What sets me apart:
Many people who do what I do have spent their careers in front of the camera. My perspective is completely different. Whether I’m producing, coaching, advising or simply observing, I have shared rooms, studios, and stages with some of the top speakers in the world.
I am often the last person someone sees before they appear on stage or on camera. I have played a part in many private moments before public appearances. It is an awesome responsibility and privilege, and I want to share all I’ve seen and learned with anyone that could benefit from it. The stories are endless and the experiences pretty extraordinary.
What were you like growing up?
People always ask me about the places I’ve been and the famous people I’ve met, but they also want to know something else. How did I do it? How did a girl who grew up in Tennessee end up in Hollywood working with some of the biggest stars on the planet?
My family moved to a new state every year from the time I was born until I was in 3rd grade so meeting new people and adapting to new environments was etched into my personality from the get-go. Traversing the country at such a young age sparked my curiosity and getting to know others meant asking questions.
In high school, I wanted to become a psychiatrist until I realized that meant at least eight years of college before I could get a job! I decided to study Communications and was sold when one of my first assignments was to watch and critique each of the Big three network evening newscasts. I eventually wrote a term paper on Ted Turner and CNN, and the rest is history.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theexecutivesproducer.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: twitter.com/melissamaytweet
- Other: www.piercingblueproductions.com
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
