Join Chris & Melissa Manley
at the Hilton KZN boardroom
Chair - Melissa Manley
Melissa Manley is a business owner and coach with over 10 years’ experience in the counselling and coaching space.
She began her entrepreneurial journey in 2017 as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and has since founded, built, and grown multiple successful service-based businesses. Her work spans 1:1 services, group programs, digital products, courses, workshops, and live offerings, giving her a deep, practical understanding of both sustainable income models and the emotional and operational challenges faced by business owners.
Melissa’s approach is grounded in human behaviour, holistic health, and emotional wellbeing, informed by ongoing personal investment in education and training across counselling, coaching, digital marketing, and course creation. She is known for her ability to integrate knowledge across disciplines — including health, psychology, behaviour, and business — in a way that feels grounded, human, and highly practical.
Business owners often seek Melissa out for support with clarity, work–life balance, and navigating the emotional load that comes with running a business and leading others. She has a strong reputation as an educator and coach, and is recognised for her ability to articulate how people are feeling and what they truly want, often helping clients gain perspective when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of their next steps.
Clients describe Melissa as warm, grounding, and easy to open up to, and consistently report feeling lighter, more positive, and clearer after working with her.
As co-chair of the Leadership Boardroom in Hilton KZN, Melissa brings a deeply human-centred perspective to the room, helping business owners think more clearly, feel more supported, and show up more intentionally in both their work and their lives.
Melissa shares insights, education, and reflections through her online platforms, where she connects with and supports a wider community of business owners and individuals. She can be found on Instagram @sleepwellbymel, and Facebook @sleepwellbymel, as well as on LinkedIn at melissa-manley-53169a34.
Chair - Chris Manley
Chris Manley is a hospitality general manager, business owner, and performance-focused coach with over 10 years’ experience across hospitality, education, and human performance.
For the past six years, he has worked as a General Manager in the hospitality industry, overseeing day-to-day operations, leading teams of 10 staff, and driving strategic business development, including recruitment, training, performance management, and cultivating team culture.
With a background in sports science and four years’ experience as a sports science coach and teacher, Chris brings a strong understanding of human performance, stress management, and sustainable systems into his work.
He currently runs The Knoll Historic Guest Farm and co-founded Knoll Events, where he has played a key role in designing and implementing operational structures that improve efficiency, consistency, and team performance, supporting scalable events and experiences.
Chris is known for his calm, logical, and practical approach, remaining level-headed in high-pressure environments and helping people and businesses perform at a high level without unnecessary pressure or burnout.
Trusted by business partners and teams, he takes senior responsibility for business development and operational strategy, identifying operational bottlenecks and implementing practical solutions that drive growth and consistency.