Managing up with assertiveness and empathy | #72 ft. Melody Wilding 

What does it really take to communicate with confidence when you’re not the one in charge?

In this episode, guest host Jason Gotwalt sits down with Melody Wilding, executive coach and author, to unpack the underestimated skill of managing up. Drawing from her background in human behavior, Melody explains why assertive communication, psychological safety, and leadership communication skills are more essential than ever.

Watch this episode to find out:

• Why managing up is the most important skill nobody teaches
• Melody’s framework of 10 critical conversations from her latest book
• How to speak truth to people in power without damaging relationships
• What the “question behavior effect” can do for difficult conversations
• How leaders can create psychological safety and reduce ambiguity
• Why feedback, boundaries, and alignment are foundational to workplace wellbeing

Packed with insights and real-world examples, this episode helps reframe leadership communication skills as everyone’s responsibility—not just those at the top.

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Guest Speaker

Melody Wilding is the author of two books, including Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge. For over a decade, she’s helped thoughtful top performers at the world’s most successful companies get the recognition, respect, and pay they deserve. She’s a licensed social worker with a master’s degree from Columbia University, professor of human behavior at Hunter College in New York City, and former emotions researcher at Rutgers University.

Podcast Host

With a decade working at the forefront of the health tech space, Jason Gotwalt is currently the SVP, Growth and Partnerships, at Headversity. He is also a MacKay CEO Forum speaker, sales trainer, private investor, and, in a past life, a professional Baseball player. Self-described as a creative connector, health-tech fanatic, servant leader, rad dad (of three daughters) and curious George, he’s built a career off failing forward and learning how to collaborate well.