I’m a coach,

teacher, and creator

on a mission

to help you maximize your

positive impacT.

Great to meet you!

Thanks for wanting to get to know me a bit more. I consider myself a bit of a philomath (and a logophile). With a background in general management, marketing, and innovation, a BS in Human Development from Cornell University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, my journey has been anything but linear. I'm a professional coach, certified personal trainer, and mindfulness enthusiast, trained by the Co-Active Institute and the American Council on Exercise.

My career began as a Teach For America corps member teaching 3rd Grade in Houston, Texas. After the corps, I worked for TFA as a Recruitment Director before heading to business school and transitioning into brand management at Johnson & Johnson. With a few years in corporate marketing under my belt, I returned to TFA once again to lead the external marketing team, then ventured into consulting at ?What If! Innovation Partners, working with Fortune 100 companies to unlock innovation and transform cultures.

Most recently, before founding Justin Meli, LLC in 2020, I led operations at Barry’s Bootcamp in the Midatlantic, and was also a top Instructor for several years until I founded Justin Meli, LLC. Now, I'm all about inspiring change and empowering growth, whether it's through coaching, consulting, speaking, or writing - I'm on a mission to help others look deeper, unlock their potential, and chart their own unique and meaningful paths in life. I’m an executive board member and secretary of the Gay Coaches Alliance and an active member of the Mindful Coaching Association.

During my down time I'm a huge reader and love hiking, camping, and hitting the beautiful beaches of sunny San Diego where I live with my amazing pup, Kylie.

Diversity & Inclusivity

I value diversity and inclusivity as integral to building a safe and supportive coaching relationship where clients can thrive. I embrace and celebrate the unique experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that shape each individual, recognizing that they fuel creative energy and talent. I am committed to practicing respect, kindness, and empathy for every person, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are.

As a neuro-divergent and gay man, I understand the importance of finding safe spaces and welcoming communities where one can be their authentic self. However, I also acknowledge the privilege I enjoy as a cisgendered male, and as someone who is typically categorized as white. I am committed to continually learning and understanding the experiences of others through humility and open communication.

My coaching approach is grounded in individual and cultural humility, recognizing and breaking down my biases to create a supportive space for clients to explore and achieve their goals. I strive to foster growth, learning, and empowerment for all individuals and welcome feedback to improve inclusiveness and accessibility in my coaching practice.

Personal Values

One of the most important things I’ve ever done is getting clear on my own values. Using values as lens gives me more clarity to make decisions based on what’s right for me and my path verses what I imagine I “should” do. If I’m feeling anxious or out of whack, I’m usually not living or acting in accordance with my values and correcting course can bring me back into my own power.

Kindness

Kindness means treating everyone with compassion and understanding, knowing that we’re all in this together, and seeing the good in every person you meet.
Curiosity

Curiosity is having a desire to learn and explore, always asking questions and wanting to know more about people and the world around you.
Generosity

Generosity is about not holding back - sharing your time, energy, and knowledge with others and knowing that it all evens out in the end.
Integrity

Integrity means being honest and true to yourself and your values, making sure your actions match what you believe and say, and being consistent across all domain of life.
Humility

Humility is recognizing that you are neither above nor below anyone else, understanding that you have much to learn from others and much to give in return.
Authenticity

Authenticity means being true to yourself, expressing who you really are, and encouraging others to do the same.