Biography

Melina Palmer is founder and CEO of The Brainy Business, which provides behavioral economics consulting to businesses of all sizes from around the world. She brings her expertise to audiences to help them understand the psychology of why people act, choose, change, and buy. 

Her podcast, The Brainy Business, has downloads in over 170 countries. Melina is an instructor of applied behavioral economics through the Human Behavior Laboratory at Texas A&M University, has contributed research to the Association for Consumer Research, and writes the Behavioral Economics & Business column for Inc.com.

Her first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You, was a finalist for two categories of the International Book Awards. The second in the series, What Your Employees Need and Can’t Tell You: Adapting to Change with the Science of Behavioral Economics, comes out in October 2022.

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Videos

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What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You

"Our job would be so easy if it wasn't for the customers." Have you ever heard someone say that (or said it yourself)? The bulk of human decisions are made subconsciously (using rules of thumb the become very predictable when you know the rules). Because of this, behavioral economics is being implemented in companies around the world to better communicate with and attract customers.

This fun and engaging presentation, based on Melina's award-winning book, What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, will explain what behavioral economics is, how brain science is being incorporated into everything from hospitals to household products, and how attendees can start applying their learnings in their work immediately using Melina's "behavioral baking" approach.

What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You

While there are different personality types, all our brains have a common thread that has been developing for millions of years. The human brain can only work when it uses hundreds of biases and rules of thumb each day. While we cannot completely eliminate bias in the workplace, understanding those key biases - which to try to reduce and which to work with to be more effective - your business can have happier employees and change initiative that are embraced around the organization. Melina uses the key items from her Internal Communication and Change Management course at Texas A&M University (and now the foundation for her second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, coming out in October 2022!) to help everyone in business understand the brain to have a better conversations and experiences at work.

Forget Brainstorming. Try Questionstorming

When you've got a problem at work, how do you go about solving it? Thanks to our school structure, almost all of us have been taught that "brainstorming" is the best course of action. Unfortunately, even though it has a word "brain" in it...this method goes against the brain's natural tendencies. In this session, Melina will show your team or group why questions are better and how to use them to ensure you work the right projects and problems moving forward to be more effective and efficient.

The Truth About Pricing (It's Not About the Cookie)

How to price products is something every business (regardless of size or industry) struggles with. Countless hours have been wasted agonizing over the perfect price, but there is something no one has told you. There is an unwritten truth about pricing - a secret Melina will uncover in this session using her proprietary "it's not about the cookie" method. In this session you will learn: (1) how the brain makes decisions about pricing. (2) why the order things are presented in matters much more than the items themselves - or the price and, (3) specific tips for commanding premium prices for any product. This fun and engaging session provides actionable, concrete tips and mind-blowing revelations about behavioral economics and the human brain that change your business (for the better) forever.

Top 5 Wording Mistakes Businesses Make

Did you know the subconscious brain makes 95% of buying decisions? That means the vast majority of choices (including whether your customer chooses to buy from you) are made using of thumb that aren't always logical. In this presentation, Melina will introduce five types of mistakes all businesses make in their wording and tips for how to stop being too vague, too literal, too confusing, and too much. Learn from their mistakes so you can create more leads - and paying costumers!

Irresistible Products: How to Build, Price and Present Products People Will Buy

Why do people buy products? What drives their behavior? Whether we like it or not, we humans buy almost everything (95%) with our subconscious brain. The subconscious makes snap decisions constantly, many of which have been developing for millions of years as a species. That means they can be easily predicted and built into product and pricing programs. Product presentation matters. The way you price matters. In this presentation, Melina will explain how to build, price, and present products to people will be driven to buy them again and again.

Neuromarketing: Working With the Brain to Create a Better Brain

Using behavioral science, we can now know with up to 84% accuracy if someone will buy - without ever having to ask the question. And often a small tweak can make all the difference (in one example, changing a single word in an ad resulted in a 38% increase in sales!)

How? By understanding the brain and using those lessons to your advantage. make your brand more "brain friendly" (and thus, more effective) when you know how habitual behavior, emotions, and the five senses are impacting your brain daily. And don't worry, this presentation is in everyday language with simple examples and tips everyone can apply immediately.

Testimonials

Melina Palmer was a speaker at Volunteer Leadership Institute-Hawaii in January 2020. She was truly the hit of the conference. It was the first time she had joined us as a speaker and her presentation was above and beyond our wildest expectations. The attendees loved Melina – her topic was on target for our group, her energy was contagious, her interaction on the stage with the audience was outstanding. She was our highest rated speaker for the conference. We loved her so much she is our opening keynoter for our 2023 conference in Maui. I would strongly recommend Melina as a speaker for your event.
– Susan Girsch, Conference Manager, Volunteer Leadership Institute-Hawaii
The most important business book to come out in years.
– Michael F. Schein, author and columnist for Forbes, Inc, and Psychology Today
The most informative, productive 1.5-hour seminar I've ever experienced at this company.
– Fortune 10 Tech employee following a corporate training
Love, love, love this session. Super funny and on point. Bring her back next year!
– Past audience member
Changed the way I think.
– Past audience member
My favorite speaker!
– Past audience member

Booksby Melina Palmer

What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You: Adapting to Change with the Science of Behavioral Economics (Change Management Book)

What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You

Blog Posts

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Learn how a heartfelt apology shared by Johnny Crowder can help you break stigma and ignite life-changing conversations about mental health and self-compassion.

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An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

Explore how former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao’s experiences in space unlock insights on leadership, innovation, and resilience for teams on Earth.

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The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Find out how event personalization, AI-driven insights, and interactive storytelling are revolutionizing keynote speeches with business futurist Greg Verdino.

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The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a shift that happens the moment someone laughs. Shoulders loosen. The room lightens. The noise of the outside world fades just...

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Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Discover Wendy Porter’s proven WPE Planning Process for crafting live, virtual, and hybrid events that foster genuine connections, boost engagement, and drive ROI.

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The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because inclusion is no longer a box to check; it’s a culture to create. From boardrooms to classrooms, arenas to virtual...

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Blog Posts

 

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Imagine if a single, mental health–focused apology could dismantle stigma, validate someone’s pain, and launch...

Read More

An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

In the boundless vacuum of space, leaders face challenges that dwarf anything encountered on Earth....

Read More

The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Imagine a keynote at your next event that feels designed just for your audience—where every...

Read More

The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a...

Read More

Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Imagine stepping into an event where every detail is designed to foster genuine human connection—from...

Read More

The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because...

Read More