EVERYTHING IS
BEING AUTOMATED
EXCEPT THIS
We are living through one of the most disorienting moments in modern history. AI is moving faster than most of us can process. The old rules of career, connection, and credibility are being rewritten in real time. And in the middle of all of it, a quiet but urgent question is emerging for a lot of people:
What actually makes us irreplaceable?
The answer has always been the same. It's your humanity. Your relationships. Your reputation. Your ability to show up as someone real in a world that's increasingly performing. That's what this evening is all about.
OVERVIEW OF THE EVENING
This evening is hosted at Social Space in historic Old Towne Orange — an intimate, beautifully designed creative space built for exactly the kind of connection we're here to have. A huge thank you to Smarty Social for making this evening possible!
Wednesday, May 20th
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Fireside Conversation
An unscripted, intimate dialogue between Maha and me. This isn't a keynote or a panel. It's a real conversation, the kind that goes beyond the evening. I'll be asking the questions I actually want answered, and knowing Maha, she won't hold back.
Live Q&A
This is your chance to bring your questions directly to Maha and I. Get personalized advice for where you are in your journey.
Book Signing & Mingle
Meet Maha in person, get your signed copy of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance, and connect with like-minded people in the room. Fifty seats means you'll actually get a chance to connect with people, not just be in the same space as them.
Get Tickets
WHERE STRATEGY MEETS SELF-AWARENESS
Maha built a global career by investing in relationships, reputation, and showing up as a value creator before anyone asked her to. She did it while caring for both her parents, far from her network, starting over as an office manager in a country she'd just moved to. She didn't wait for perfect conditions. She adapted to her new reality and built anyway.
I've spent 15+ years understanding human behavior. The patterns, the conditioning, the limiting beliefs running underneath every decision we make.
Together, this conversation covers the full spectrum. From the external blueprint to the internal work that makes it all sustainable. Most events give you one or the other. This one gives you both.
Maha Abouelenein is a USA Today bestselling author, global communications strategist, and CEO of Digital & Savvy, a firm she built with offices in the US and Dubai after 30+ years advising Fortune 500 companies, governments, and some of the most recognized brands in the world.
She spent over a decade as Head of Global Communications at Google, navigating some of the most complex moments in modern tech history. She has sat across from prime ministers, CEOs, and world leaders — and helped them find and protect their voice.
But her most important work happened quietly. Caring for two gravely ill parents while building an international career, betting on relationships before she knew they'd pay off. Her book, 7 Rules of Self-Reliance, is the distillation of all of it.
I'm Melanie Whitney, a mindful communication expert and coach who has spent 15+ years helping people reprogram the thoughts, emotions, and patterns quietly running their lives.
My work sits at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and Eastern philosophy. I've worked with Fortune 500 companies, the United States Military, and created courses for LinkedIn Learning, reaching people all around the world. But the thread through all of it has been the same: helping people close the gap between who they are and who they actually want to be.
I created this event because I believe the most powerful conversations happen when strategy meets self-awareness. Maha gives you the roadmap. I help you understand what's been keeping you from taking the next step.
SAVE YOUR SEAT
Fifty seats. One night. A conversation you won't find on a podcast or a stage.
Come ready to listen, reflect, and leave with something real.