Episode 143 · May 7, 2024
ALT Summit Conference wrap-up with Danielle Melton, Founder of MOTHERboard Society
with Danielle Melton, Founder of MOTHERboard Society & MOTHERboard Foundation
40 min
ALT Summit Conference wrap-up with Danielle Melton, Founder of MOTHERboard Society
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In this episode
In this episode I sit down with Danielle Melton, founder of MOTHERboard Society, for a recap of our time at ALT Summit in Palm Springs — a conference for creatives, bloggers, and women entrepreneurs. Here's the funny part: Danielle and I both live in Tulsa, less than twenty minutes apart, and we had to travel all the way to California to finally meet. I love that. It says everything about why getting out of your comfort zone and into a room full of your people can change everything.
We talk honestly about what it felt like to walk into that space for the first time — that "flowy," relaxed vibe that somehow still felt professional, and the sense of being genuinely supported instead of sized up. It felt like a sisterhood, not a competition, and we both walked away thinking about how to carry that same welcoming energy back into our own communities in Oklahoma.
If you've been wondering whether it's worth investing in yourself — the time, the money, the nerve it takes to pitch yourself and show up alone — this conversation is my encouragement to you. Keep going. Pitch yourself. Know your worth. The connections you make are an investment in your passion and purpose, and the worst anyone can say is no — which usually just means it's time to pivot.
Key takeaways
- Sometimes you have to leave home to find your people — Nancy and Danielle both live in Tulsa but met for the first time at ALT Summit in California.
- Investing in a conference is really an investment in yourself and your professional journey; the connections alone can open unexpected doors.
- Pitch yourself, even on a whim. You can apply to speak on a roundtable, panel, or as a facilitator — one application per opportunity, so apply for several.
- The easiest way to start speaking is on a panel, where you answer questions in short bursts before working up to keynotes.
- 'No' isn't a stop sign — it's a pivot. If one door closes, look for another room where your message fits.
- Bring people with you. When you have a seat at the table, mention others' names in rooms they aren't in — that's how a whole community grows together.
- Being present the entire event (not just on stage) creates real access and connection — you can catch speakers at lunch or later that evening, not just during Q&A.
- Accountability makes goals stick. A workbook plus a monthly face-to-face check-in beats going it alone.
“It was like a sisterhood and not a competition. Everybody was there for each other, and they wanted to lift each other up.”
“We had to go to Palm Springs to meet — and we live not even twenty minutes away from one another.”
“If I have a seat at the table, I'm bringing other people with me, because that's the goal.”
“Pitch yourself, know your worth, go for that goal, and the worst they can say is no — and no isn't always a stop, it's a pivot.”
Resources mentioned
About Danielle
Founder of MOTHERboard Society & MOTHERboard Foundation
Danielle Melton is the founder of MOTHERboard Society and the MOTHERboard Foundation, a Tulsa-based community and workplace-support movement for working moms. What began as an Instagram page grew into what she calls a 'working mom empire,' supporting over 15,000 women through community connection, events, and offerings that help employers create nurturing, inclusive environments for mothers. She was selected from 900 applicants to speak at ALT Summit on building community with diversity in mind, and has also spoken at Mom 2.0.
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