MEET OUR FOUNDER

permission to be real, granted

Hi, I’m Kelly

Throughout my life, I’ve worn lots of different hats. I’ve worked in boardrooms and ashrams. I’ve blended two families and six children. I’ve brought women from more than 50 countries together in my passion for truthtelling and uplifting women’s voices. I’m a devoted mom, wife, friend, mentor, bestselling author, and businesswoman who knows that putting on your own oxygen mask is the best way you can model what it means to take care of yourself and others.

These experiences are all a part of me—the good, the bad, and everything in between.

I’m messy, I’m genuine, and I’m perfectly imperfect.

And now that you’re here with me, I hope you’ll feel free to share your own perfectly imperfect self. Let me help you get started.

Permission to be real: granted

Kelly's Formal Bio

Want to get messy with me?

Let me inspire you to take action on the regular. Plus, I’ll tell you Why I Love My Fat, and other messy truths.

How I share my messy brilliance

I write

I have a lot of thoughts about a lot of things. My bestselling book, Your Messy Brilliance: 7 Tools for the Perfectly Imperfect Woman, is a love letter to women everywhere. I believe the “truth” of who we are and what we are capable of lives in our messiness. Messiness has negative connotations in our culture—after all, “hot mess” is hardly a compliment—but to me, it signifies a person’s wholeness.

As women, we beat ourselves up for being too emotional, too chaotic, too much of everything that actually makes us the powerful, creative, brilliant people we are! The things we believe make us imperfect or not enough are actually the places where our highest potential for joy and creativity lives. And that kind of mess is hot.

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I mentor and nurture

Most of all, I pour my time into creating courses for bold and powerful women who want to make a difference, make life happen, and act on their dreams.

In addition, I hold intensive retreats that give bold, brave, truthtelling women the opportunity to be completely real about what’s going on in their lives (the kind of real that can be hard to share with even our closest friends and loved ones)—reminding them of their potential to step up, speak out, and shine.

Finally, I offer hour-long Clarity Calls to passionate, curious, committed women who are ready to make powerful changes in their lives.

I speak

I’m a speaker and workshop facilitator. Everything I talk about boils down to helping women reclaim their voices so they can live life unapologetically and on their own terms. My workshop topics range from teaching women to dive into conflict and hard conversation to helping them cultivate the kind of supportive sisterhood that will change their personal and professional lives for the better.

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Messy brilliance, Kelly McNelis, personal experience stories

CHECK OUT MY TOP FEATURES

O! Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine: The Power of Story

Movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp are inspiring women to find their power, their voice, and their confidence—and to claim their stories, rise up, and take action. It’s a moment in time that Kelly and Women For One are fully on board with. Find out more about the evolution of Wf1, from a story-sharing platform to a powerful global community that hosts transformative events like the signature Truthteller Tour. Read here.

King 5: Empowering Women To Overcome Sexual Harassment And Abuse

In this conversation with King 5, Kelly speaks out about the recent #MeToo phenomenon. She offers her feedback on how we can empower women to stand up against the culture of power and abuse by allowing our voices to be heard—and by speaking up on behalf of all those who aren’t ready to speak out about their most painful stories. Watch here.

Lux & Concord: Women We Love – Kelly McNelis, Founder Of Women For One

“I truly believe that when women connect with each other — across all our differences and unique perspectives—we effect change on a major scale.” In this Q&A, Kelly talks about her new book, how she balances her work life and professional life, and what it really means to support other women in your tribe. Read here.

The Huffington Post: #MeToo And Changing The Culture Of Power

Kelly writes in depth about the phenomenon of #MeToo and why it’s so important to demand accountability of those who are in positions of power. She also sheds light on why talking and writing about some of our most painful experiences can bring about a sense of healing, connection, and solidarity with other women—and why this is so revolutionary when it comes to transforming the world and stepping into genuine power. Read here.

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Sharing Love with Wf1

“Kelly McNelis is real, and she has built the platform that gives other women the space to be real, as well. By encouraging women across the globe to share their stories, we all have more permission to step deeper into our authentic selves…and the world is better for it.”

Erin Weed, Founder of Girls Fight Back and Evoso

“Kelly McNelis has made it her life-long mission to empower women, and it is truly inspiring. It is an honor to know her.”

Panache Desai, Author of Discovering Your Soul Signature

“Kelly has the uncanny ability to make you feel as if you are the most important person in the room. She encourages you to share yourself with the world, find your talents, and give big. Kelly is living the principles of authenticity, truth, and love.”

Peg Rodrigues, Founder of Soul Window

“The truth about women is that they are inherently sexy. The power of feminine nature and the value of resurrecting a feminine culture shouldn’t be underestimated. Women who are awakened to the truth of their bodies know no limits. I teach women about the Erotic Creature, the Feminine Geniuses, and the 5 Layers of Sexy because knowledge is power and power is sexy! There is no shame in fully owning and being empowered by the gifts women are bestowed with. Kelly is an amazing woman who is helping to stoke the flames of the feminine campfire we must work to keep aflame. The truth is to be celebrated, so I celebrate Kelly’s work in helping the feminine rise!”

Sheila Kelley, Founder of S Factor

“Kelly is a passionate and inspiring woman whose global community, Women For One, is a testament to her commitment to making a difference in the world.”

Brenda Michaels, Host of Conscious Talk Radio and Author of The Gift of Cancer

“Kelly is a woman passionate about her subject matter and articulate in delivering her message. She not only has powerful content, but she delivers it so it is relatable and relevant. If you get the opportunity to attend one of Kelly’s workshops, do it—you will be glad you did!”

Brad Worthley, Author of ADD is a Gift, Not a Disorder

“I had the delight of meeting Kelly when I was launching the Million Mamas Movement in 2012. I felt like I had met a sister from another mother. We talked several times over the phone. When we met in person, it was a meeting of kindred souls. While our life experiences have been different, our hearts and visions for empowering women are very aligned. I’ve been a Truthteller all my life. It was wonderful to be a Featured Truthteller on Women For One: telling the truth about my path, what led me to birth the Million Mamas Movement, and the power of mothering.”

Wendy Silvers

PERFECTION IS OVERRATED

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