Malena hails from St. Louis, Missouri and learned at the knee how to write and orate speeches as the daughter of an African civil rights leader, and the granddaughter of an African-American lawyer and presidential advisor. Malena turned her passion for elocution into a 20-year international writing career spanning the U.S., Asia and Africa and has covered hundreds of speeches for top publications and profiled dozens of thought leaders, including Bono and Michelle Obama. She’s a pro in audience engagement, most recently as a speech writer and research and analytical ace at the intersection of business, technology and culture. Malena is also the national editor for Verizon’s digital readiness initiatives for small businesses. Malena earned her bachelor’s in journalism from Northwestern University and master’s in journalism from Columbia University. She is also an accomplished African dancer, producer, author, instructor, and proud mother of two real life power rangers.