I’m Justin Meli, and I specialize in helping people turn ideas into action.

As a professional coach, innovation strategist, and business consultant, I’ve worked with everyone from Fortune 50 companies to startups to individual creatives and entrepreneurs, guiding them through reinvention, business development, and idea execution. My expertise lies in helping people connect the dots between their skills, experiences, and ambitions—and then design a clear path forward.

I bring a structured coaching approach to this program, meaning this isn’t just about learning frameworks—it’s about helping you apply them in a way that makes sense for you. My coaching process is highly interactive, designed to unlock insights, challenge assumptions, and get you moving, fast.

Why Learn From Me?

✔️ MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management—one of the top business schools in the world.

✔️ Professional coach and corporate trainer, with experience coaching leaders and teams at Fortune 50 companies, startups, and top universities like NYU Stern and Wharton.

✔️ Innovation & strategy consultant, helping businesses refine their models, launch new products, and scale their ideas.

✔️ Multi-passionate entrepreneur—I’ve built and monetized multiple side hustles, including coaching programs, consulting, audiobook narration, and niche fiction publishing.

✔️ Deep expertise in Design Thinking, Business Model Innovation, and Creative Problem-Solving, bringing the best tools from the corporate and startup worlds into an approachable, practical, and fun process.

This experience is part strategy, part coaching, and part creative think tank. You’ll get the tools, frameworks, and high-level strategy of my innovation work, combined with the personalized coaching, accountability, and support that make group coaching so powerful. My goal is to help you stop overthinking and start building—without the overwhelm.

A class typically follows a preset curriculum, where an instructor teaches information in a structured, one-way format. Group coaching, on the other hand, is dynamic, interactive, and tailored to the specific needs of the group.

In The Idea Accelerator, you’re not just absorbing information—you’re actively workshopping your idea, engaging in live discussions, and receiving personalized feedback in real time. Instead of just following a script, we adapt based on what’s coming up for you and your fellow participants.

Think of this as more of a collaborative think tank than a traditional course. You’ll gain insights, feedback, and fresh perspectives from both me as your coach and from the diverse experiences of the group. Often, the biggest breakthroughs come from seeing how someone else navigates a challenge or hearing feedback that sparks a new way of thinking about your own idea.

The magic of group coaching is that it’s both structured and flexible—you’ll have a clear roadmap and proven tools, but we’ll apply them in ways that make sense for your specific idea and situation. It’s not about memorizing content; it’s about taking action, experimenting, and making real progress in a supportive, high-energy environment.

Nope! You just need an initial spark. Whether it’s a loose concept, a casual side hustle, or something you’ve been sitting on for years, this program will help you shape it into something real.

Perfect. That’s exactly what this program is for. You’ll test, refine, and shape your idea with structured feedback and coaching so you can move forward with clarity.

No suits required. This is a creative, engaging process that uses business frameworks in a way that’s practical and fun—no jargon, no boring spreadsheets, just clear steps that help you move forward.

No! While some participants may want to turn their idea into a business, this is also for creatives, freelancers, and anyone looking to develop a project, side hustle, or passion into something tangible.

It is critical that all group members show up on time for each session, keep your cameras on (there will be no hiding out on Zoom) and be ready and willing to participate. You will also be required to keep all information shared by other members confidential, and will sign an agreement to this effect before the program starts.

Absolutely! This program isn’t just for people starting from scratch. If you already have a side hustle, freelance work, or a creative project and want to make it more intentional, structured, or profitable, this program will help you refine your strategy, identify gaps, and accelerate your progress.

The weekly group session is 60 minutes, and you’ll also have two private 1:1 coaching sessions during the program. Beyond that, the time commitment depends on how much effort you have to put into your idea, recognizing that sometimes having too much time can be as big a detriment as having too little (more on that once we get started). Generally, expect to spend at least a couple of hours per week taking action.

If you’re feeling unsure, that’s totally normal! Feel free to reach out to justin@justinmeli.com with any questions before signing up, and I’ll be happy to help you figure out if this is the right fit for where you are now.

That depends on you! You’ll leave with a well-developed idea, a clear sense of next steps, and a real plan to move forward. The real transformation happens in the action you take.

It can—but that’s not necessarily the goal. Some people will use this program to refine a business idea, while others may want to develop a side hustle, passion project, or creative outlet. The focus is on building momentum and creating real-world progress—where you take it next is up to you.

That’s a win, too! Sometimes, the best outcome is realizing that an idea isn’t the right fit, so you can pivot to something even better. This program helps you gain clarity and confidence—so if you decide to change direction, you’ll know exactly why and what to do next.

The cohort will be small and intimate to make sure you get personalized feedback and support. Expect a group of 5–8 people who are all bringing their own unique ideas and perspectives.

Once the final small group is on board, we will choose a weekly day and time for the live group sessions that works for everyone (your flexibility is appreciated!). You’re 1:1 coaching sessions can be scheduled at your convenience.

Sessions will be recorded and available only to members of this group. That said, the magic is in the live interaction, so I encourage showing up as much as possible.

Yes! As long as the session times work for you, you’re welcome to join from anywhere in the world.

That depends on your job and your employer’s policies. Many companies support professional development and might cover this as part of your learning, leadership, or innovation training. If you need an invoice or supporting documentation, just ask!

Refunds can be issued up until March 29, 2025 in the case that we are absolutely unable to find a common group session time that you can regularly attend. Otherwise, it’s important that all members of the group remain committed to the experience for the benefit of all.