Malla Haridat is a Sales & Client Acquisition Educator, organizational leader, and founder of New Designs for Life, an award-winning training and strategy firm. Her work helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and institutions understand how revenue, influence, and decisions actually move especially when sales is not their formal role.
Malla has received the NYC Small Business Award for entrepreneurship innovation. The New York Times featured her work in a full-page profile, noting that “Malla Haridat gets people thinking like an entrepreneur.” She has contributed to Black Enterprise and HuffingtonPost, and her insights have been cited by Fox Small Business and Inc.
Over the past two decades, Malla has worked with universities, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and national conferences, including Black Enterprise’s Entrepreneur Conference. She has also served on the Board of Advisors for Barnard College’s Entrepreneurship Group.
Malla holds a degree from Columbia University and previously served as Vice President of College Relations for the New York chapter of the National Board of African-American HR Professionals. Across her work, she is known for translating complex questions around growth, risk, and opportunity into practical frameworks people can actually use.
Her speaking and facilitation style is grounded, interactive, and focused on helping audiences move from insight to informed action without scripts, pressure, or performative tactics.
Malla began her entrepreneurial journey at age 16, when she sold the car she inherited from her grandmother to start a vending machine business. Today, when she’s not working, she’s teaching her daughter how to approach life through entrepreneurial thinking.
Organizations are working harder than ever to engage people — yet attendance is shrinking, audiences are overwhelmed, and even valuable programs struggle to break through the noise.
Workshops are planned
Events are promoted
Resources are invested
But too often, organizations are left asking the same frustrating question:“Why aren’t people showing up?”
The answer usually isn’t that people don’t care. It’s that the way people make decisions has changed.
In today’s environment, people are overwhelmed, distracted, cautious with their time, and constantly evaluating whether something feels immediately relevant, trustworthy, and worth the energy required to participate.
Yet many organizations still design programs from the inside out — focusing first on what they want to offer instead of how their audience actually experiences the decision to engage.
In this practical and thought-provoking session, entrepreneurship strategist and ecosystem consultant Malla Haridat explores why traditional outreach and engagement strategies are becoming less effective — and what organizations must understand if they want to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Drawing from years of experience designing entrepreneurship programs, workforce initiatives, leadership trainings, and community-based educational experiences, Malla shares a more audience-centered approach to engagement — one rooted in entrepreneurial thinking, behavioral insight, and real-world program design.
Through stories, examples, and practical reflection, participants will learn how to better understand the hidden barriers that prevent people from participating, how attention and trust have shifted in today’s economy, and why even strong programs often struggle when organizations misunderstand the emotional realities of the people they serve.This session helps organizations move beyond simply promoting programs and toward creating experiences that feel timely, meaningful, and easier for people to say yes to.Leave with practical strategies to design experiences people are more likely to attend, engage with, and share
Testimonials of Malla speaking
A short sample of prior speaking events include:
A Better Chance Association of Black Foundation Executives Association of MIT Alumnae Bank Street College Barnard College Black Enterprise Borough of Manhattan Community College Columbia University, School of International Pubic Affairs Enterprise-Rent-a-Car Fast Company FUEL: The Ultimate Men’ Summit INC 5000 National Association of Professional Organizers National Urban Fellows New York Women in Business Partnership for After School Corporation Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Program QEDC SHRM SCORE Sunnyside The Gotham Film and Media Institute The City of New York SBS The City of New MWBE US Department of Transportation Verizon WENYC
For years, being good at what you do was often enough to create opportunities, attract clients, and build momentum.
Today, many organizations and professionals are discovering a frustrating reality: even strong work, valuable services, and talented teams are struggling to gain traction in an increasingly overwhelmed and distracted world.
Audiences are taking longer to make decisions.
Clients are hesitating.
Teams are working harder but often feeling less visible.
And the old ways of building trust and standing out are no longer as effective as they once were.
In this timely and thought-provoking session, entrepreneurship strategist and ecosystem consultant Malla Haridat explores what has changed in the way people evaluate opportunities, make decisions, and determine what feels worth their time, attention, and investment.
Blending entrepreneurial thinking, audience behavior insights, real-world business experience, and practical strategy, Malla helps participants understand why “doing good work” alone is no longer enough to create momentum — and what organizations, leaders, and professionals must do instead.
Through stories, examples, and practical reflection, participants will explore how visibility, communication, trust, adaptability, and emotional relevance now play a critical role in whether ideas, programs, businesses, and people break through the noise.
Rather than encouraging hustle or constant reinvention, this session offers a more grounded and strategic approach to staying relevant, building stronger connections, and creating meaningful traction in uncertain times.
Why People Stop Showing Up
Organizations are working harder than ever to engage people — yet attendance is shrinking, audiences are overwhelmed, and even valuable programs struggle to break through the noise.
Workshops are planned
Events are promoted
Resources are invested
But too often, organizations are left asking the same frustrating question:“Why aren’t people showing up?”
The answer usually isn’t that people don’t care. It’s that the way people make decisions has changed.
In today’s environment, people are overwhelmed, distracted, cautious with their time, and constantly evaluating whether something feels immediately relevant, trustworthy, and worth the energy required to participate.
Yet many organizations still design programs from the inside out — focusing first on what they want to offer instead of how their audience actually experiences the decision to engage.
In this practical and thought-provoking session, entrepreneurship strategist and ecosystem consultant Malla Haridat explores why traditional outreach and engagement strategies are becoming less effective — and what organizations must understand if they want to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Drawing from years of experience designing entrepreneurship programs, workforce initiatives, leadership trainings, and community-based educational experiences, Malla shares a more audience-centered approach to engagement — one rooted in entrepreneurial thinking, behavioral insight, and real-world program design.
Through stories, examples, and practical reflection, participants will learn how to better understand the hidden barriers that prevent people from participating, how attention and trust have shifted in today’s economy, and why even strong programs often struggle when organizations misunderstand the emotional realities of the people they serve.This session helps organizations move beyond simply promoting programs and toward creating experiences that feel timely, meaningful, and easier for people to say yes to.Leave with practical strategies to design experiences people are more likely to attend, engage with, and share
Testimonials of Malla speaking
A short sample of prior speaking events include:
A Better Chance Association of Black Foundation Executives Association of MIT Alumnae Bank Street College Barnard College Black Enterprise Borough of Manhattan Community College Columbia University, School of International Pubic Affairs Enterprise-Rent-a-Car Fast Company FUEL: The Ultimate Men’ Summit INC 5000 National Association of Professional Organizers National Urban Fellows New York Women in Business Partnership for After School Corporation Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Program QEDC SHRM SCORE Sunnyside The Gotham Film and Media Institute The City of New York SBS The City of New MWBE US Department of Transportation Verizon WENYC
Malla’s Most Requested Speaking Sessions
Good Isn’t Good Enough Anymore
For years, being good at what you do was often enough to create opportunities, attract clients, and build momentum.
Today, many organizations and professionals are discovering a frustrating reality: even strong work, valuable services, and talented teams are struggling to gain traction in an increasingly overwhelmed and distracted world.
Audiences are taking longer to make decisions.
Clients are hesitating.
Teams are working harder but often feeling less visible.
And the old ways of building trust and standing out are no longer as effective as they once were.
In this timely and thought-provoking session, entrepreneurship strategist and ecosystem consultant Malla Haridat explores what has changed in the way people evaluate opportunities, make decisions, and determine what feels worth their time, attention, and investment.
Blending entrepreneurial thinking, audience behavior insights, real-world business experience, and practical strategy, Malla helps participants understand why “doing good work” alone is no longer enough to create momentum — and what organizations, leaders, and professionals must do instead.
Through stories, examples, and practical reflection, participants will explore how visibility, communication, trust, adaptability, and emotional relevance now play a critical role in whether ideas, programs, businesses, and people break through the noise.
Rather than encouraging hustle or constant reinvention, this session offers a more grounded and strategic approach to staying relevant, building stronger connections, and creating meaningful traction in uncertain times.
Why People Stop Showing Up
Organizations are working harder than ever to engage people — yet attendance is shrinking, audiences are overwhelmed, and even valuable programs struggle to break through the noise.
Workshops are planned
Events are promoted
Resources are invested
But too often, organizations are left asking the same frustrating question:“Why aren’t people showing up?”
The answer usually isn’t that people don’t care. It’s that the way people make decisions has changed.
In today’s environment, people are overwhelmed, distracted, cautious with their time, and constantly evaluating whether something feels immediately relevant, trustworthy, and worth the energy required to participate.
Yet many organizations still design programs from the inside out — focusing first on what they want to offer instead of how their audience actually experiences the decision to engage.
In this practical and thought-provoking session, entrepreneurship strategist and ecosystem consultant Malla Haridat explores why traditional outreach and engagement strategies are becoming less effective — and what organizations must understand if they want to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Drawing from years of experience designing entrepreneurship programs, workforce initiatives, leadership trainings, and community-based educational experiences, Malla shares a more audience-centered approach to engagement — one rooted in entrepreneurial thinking, behavioral insight, and real-world program design.
Through stories, examples, and practical reflection, participants will learn how to better understand the hidden barriers that prevent people from participating, how attention and trust have shifted in today’s economy, and why even strong programs often struggle when organizations misunderstand the emotional realities of the people they serve.This session helps organizations move beyond simply promoting programs and toward creating experiences that feel timely, meaningful, and easier for people to say yes to.Leave with practical strategies to design experiences people are more likely to attend, engage with, and share
Testimonials of Malla speaking
A short sample of prior speaking events include:
A Better Chance Association of Black Foundation Executives Association of MIT Alumnae Bank Street College Barnard College Black Enterprise Borough of Manhattan Community College Columbia University, School of International Pubic Affairs Enterprise-Rent-a-Car Fast Company FUEL: The Ultimate Men’ Summit INC 5000 National Association of Professional Organizers National Urban Fellows New York Women in Business Partnership for After School Corporation Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Program QEDC SHRM SCORE Sunnyside The Gotham Film and Media Institute The City of New York SBS The City of New MWBE US Department of Transportation Verizon WENYC
Malla’s Most Requested Speaking Sessions
Good Isn’t Good Enough Anymore
For years, being good at what you do was often enough to create opportunities, attract clients, and build momentum.
Today, many organizations and professionals are discovering a frustrating reality: even strong work, valuable services, and talented teams are struggling to gain traction in an increasingly overwhelmed and distracted world.
Audiences are taking longer to make decisions.
Clients are hesitating.
Teams are working harder but often feeling less visible.
And the old ways of building trust and standing out are no longer as effective as they once were.
In this timely and thought-provoking session, entrepreneurship strategist and ecosystem consultant Malla Haridat explores what has changed in the way people evaluate opportunities, make decisions, and determine what feels worth their time, attention, and investment.
Blending entrepreneurial thinking, audience behavior insights, real-world business experience, and practical strategy, Malla helps participants understand why “doing good work” alone is no longer enough to create momentum — and what organizations, leaders, and professionals must do instead.
Through stories, examples, and practical reflection, participants will explore how visibility, communication, trust, adaptability, and emotional relevance now play a critical role in whether ideas, programs, businesses, and people break through the noise.
Rather than encouraging hustle or constant reinvention, this session offers a more grounded and strategic approach to staying relevant, building stronger connections, and creating meaningful traction in uncertain times.
Why People Stop Showing Up
Organizations are working harder than ever to engage people — yet attendance is shrinking, audiences are overwhelmed, and even valuable programs struggle to break through the noise.
Workshops are planned
Events are promoted
Resources are invested
But too often, organizations are left asking the same frustrating question:“Why aren’t people showing up?”
The answer usually isn’t that people don’t care. It’s that the way people make decisions has changed.
In today’s environment, people are overwhelmed, distracted, cautious with their time, and constantly evaluating whether something feels immediately relevant, trustworthy, and worth the energy required to participate.
Yet many organizations still design programs from the inside out — focusing first on what they want to offer instead of how their audience actually experiences the decision to engage.
In this practical and thought-provoking session, entrepreneurship strategist and ecosystem consultant Malla Haridat explores why traditional outreach and engagement strategies are becoming less effective — and what organizations must understand if they want to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Drawing from years of experience designing entrepreneurship programs, workforce initiatives, leadership trainings, and community-based educational experiences, Malla shares a more audience-centered approach to engagement — one rooted in entrepreneurial thinking, behavioral insight, and real-world program design.
Through stories, examples, and practical reflection, participants will learn how to better understand the hidden barriers that prevent people from participating, how attention and trust have shifted in today’s economy, and why even strong programs often struggle when organizations misunderstand the emotional realities of the people they serve.This session helps organizations move beyond simply promoting programs and toward creating experiences that feel timely, meaningful, and easier for people to say yes to.Leave with practical strategies to design experiences people are more likely to attend, engage with, and share
Testimonials of Malla speaking
A short sample of prior speaking events include:
A Better Chance Association of Black Foundation Executives Association of MIT Alumnae Bank Street College Barnard College Black Enterprise Borough of Manhattan Community College Columbia University, School of International Pubic Affairs Enterprise-Rent-a-Car Fast Company FUEL: The Ultimate Men’ Summit INC 5000 National Association of Professional Organizers National Urban Fellows New York Women in Business Partnership for After School Corporation Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Program QEDC SHRM SCORE Sunnyside The Gotham Film and Media Institute The City of New York SBS The City of New MWBE US Department of Transportation Verizon WENYC
Organizations are working harder than ever to engage people — yet attendance is shrinking, audiences are overwhelmed, and even valuable programs struggle to break through the noise.