S2 E07: Melody Wilding, Executive Coach and Author of Managing Up
From Pitch Masters by Danny Fontaine
March 29, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 2 · Episode 7
About this episode
In this episode, Danny Fontaine interviews executive coach Melody Wilding about the importance of managing up and effective communication in the workplace.
If pitching is about persuading people to act, then the workplace version of that skill often comes down to something quieter: managing up. In this episode of Pitch Masters, I speak with executive coach and bestselling author Melody Wilding about how influence really works inside organisations. Many capable professionals assume strong work will naturally be recognised. But when ideas fail to gain traction with senior leaders, the issue is often communication rather than competence. Drawing on insights from her book Managing Up, Melody explains how understanding your manager’s priorities, communication style, and pressures can change the way your ideas land — whether you’re proposing a new initiative, advocating for resources, or simply trying to make your work visible. In this conversation we explore: Why strong work doesn’t always translate into influence The problem of “silent competence” in organisations How to understand your manager’s decision-making style Practical ways to navigate difficult conversations with leaders Why managing up is often the hidden form of pitching inside companies Learn more about Melody Wilding: Website: https://melodywilding.com LinkedIn…
People in this episode
Host: Danny Fontaine
Guest: Melody Wilding
Topics covered
- managing up
- influence in organizations
- communication skills
- workplace dynamics
- executive coaching
Keywords
- pitching
- influence
- communication style
- decision-making
- difficult conversations
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: LinkedIn, Website
Books & works: Managing Up
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- S2 E09 VIDEO VERSION: Gina Balarin, Author, Advisor and TEDx Speaker · May 3, 2026 · 1h 7m
- S2 E08 VIDEO VERSION: Atif Rafiq, Former McDonald’s, Amazon, and MGM exec, author of Decision Sprint · April 12, 2026 · 1h 20m
- S2 E08: Atif Rafiq, Former McDonald’s, Amazon, and MGM exec, author of Decision Sprint · April 12, 2026 · 1h 20m
- S2 E07 VIDEO VERSION: Melody Wilding, Executive Coach and Author of Managing Up · March 29, 2026 · 1h 13m
- S2 E06 VIDEO VERSION: Terry Szuplat, Former Obama Speechwriter and Bestselling Author · March 15, 2026 · 1h 28m
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