EP 2.1 Melanie Sue Hicks: Invisible Snake Bites, The Economics of Broken Workplaces
Join host Vinny Tafuro and guest Dr. Melanie Sue Hicks, a workforce and employee experience expert with more than two decades of experience in organizational development and culture, for a conversation about workplace dysfunction and its broader economic impact. Today's conversation focuses on the hidden costs of employee disengagement, drawing from Dr. Hicks' research on psychological contracts and generational workplace dynamics. Dr. Hicks introduces the concept of "invisible snake bites" - the accumulated damage from unmet workplace expectations that costs the global economy $9 trillion annually.
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Creators and Guests
Host
Vinny Tafuro
Vinny is a visionary, futurist, writer, entrepreneur, communications theorist, and economist. A polymath and curious by nature, he is a pioneering advocate for the twenty-first-century economy that is disrupting society’s rigid institutions and beliefs. Vinny’s economic and foresight projects explore the societal and economic shifts being catalyzed by human culture as a result of technology, corporate personhood, and evolving human cognition. An engaging and energetic speaker, Vinny presents on a variety of topics both professionally and through community outreach. He enjoys an active and blended professional, academic, and personal life, selecting challenging projects that offer opportunities for personal and professional growth. He is the author of Corporate Empathy and Unlocking the Labor Cage.
Guest
Melanie Sue Hicks
Dr. Melanie Sue Hicks is a workforce and employee experience expert, author, TEDx speaker, and corporate trainer with a passion for helping organizations and individuals unlock their full potential. She currently serves as the Vice President of Programs for the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. Over the course of her career, she has worked with hundreds of clients—including small to midsized businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations—providing experiential, innovative solutions in strategy, organizational development, and workforce optimization. Her expertise has earned her recognition in major media outlets such as Forbes, NBC, and CBS, solidifying her reputation as a thought leader in her field. Beyond her professional work, Dr. Hicks is a dedicated global philanthropist, driven by a deep commitment to fostering human connection and resilience. Her extensive travels have taken her to more than 45 countries, spanning over 120,000 miles, where she has contributed more than 2,500 hours to service projects ranging from educational initiatives to community development programs. These experiences have profoundly shaped her perspective on leadership, adaptability, and the power of service-driven transformation. Dr. Hicks is the author of Incongruent: Travel, Trauma, Transformation, a travel memoir that explores resilience through the lens of adventure and service work. She is also the curator of Shaking Off the Ashes, a resilience-focused poetry collection. A writer from an early age—completing her first book at just 10 years old—she has since been published in numerous esteemed publications, including Forbes.com, Marie Claire, Authority Magazine, See Beyond Magazine, The District, and Doctor’s Life Magazine, among others.
