Emmy Melville

Emmy Melville is a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards, and senior leadership teams, with deep expertise in C-suite succession planning, executive development, and top team performance. Based in Atlanta, she is a key member of the firm’s Executive Development practice and leads executive coaching solutions for the Americas. Emmy partners with clients at pivotal moments—helping leaders prepare for CEO and C-suite succession, strengthen executive team dynamics, and build capacity to navigate transformation with clarity and intention.

Emmy has deep experience advising C-suite executives across industries, helping them understand not only how they lead, but how their leadership shapes their teams and organization. Known for her grounded presence and relational approach, she creates the trust and structure leaders need to grow, align, and perform during periods of transition and ambiguity.

Before joining Russell Reynolds Associates, Emmy was Director of Leadership Programs at Duke Corporate Education, where she guided Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 clients in designing and delivering flagship executive leadership programs. Previously, she held senior roles at Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), including Senior Team Leader for Client Solutions and Leadership Development, driving talent development, account strategy, and growth for global financial services and private equity clients. Earlier in her career, Emmy led a nonprofit in Nicaragua as Executive Director, managing a hybrid business model, a coffee farm and ecotourism venture, to drive sustainable economic growth and community development programs.

Emmy holds a master’s in global public policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She speaks fluent English and Spanish.