As the chief operating officer and head of government affairs at Writing.io, Mel Kimmel has become a leader in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) education. Supported by more than two decades of professional experience, Kimmel leverages expertise in government sector operations to support growth. By building relationships and promoting expansion, she is positioning Writing.io for success.
Known for her ability to see a vision through from start to finish, Kimmel describes herself as a “full-circle” person: organized, forward-driven and deeply committed to turning ideas into tangible results. Her strength lies in connecting people and building relationships, a skill she first honed in Romania and continues to apply today by bringing together individuals who can mutually support one another. Her colleagues often note her knack for problem-solving and her determination to follow through on every commitment.
Before she began her professional career, Kimmel pursued an education. In 2001, she completed a two-year program in rehabilitation, conditioning, exercise and dance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Building from this foundational experience, she entered the world of entrepreneurship as the founder and owner of a fitness business in Washington, D.C., in 2006.
From Fitness to Government Service
Kimmel sold the business in 2011. When she moved to Romania in 2014, she became the chief operating officer of the Bucharest Employee Recreation Association at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.
Kimmel’s time in Romania was especially formative, not only for her leadership experience but also for her approach to collaboration. “People show you who they are right away,” she has said, “so believe them.” That lesson shaped her philosophy of showing up and being human, values that continue to guide her professional interactions.
After concluding her work at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest in 2018, Kimmel joined Confidential Careers as a director of business development and marketing in 2020. She served in this role until 2023, when she became an operations executive at Hive Group, where she still operates today. That same year, she became chief operating officer and head of government affairs at Writing.io.
Key Responsibilities at Writing.io
At Writing.io, Kimmel is responsible for organizing steps for growth and overseeing their completion. Perhaps most importantly, she cultivates key relationships related to government affairs, working extensively with government contracting and integrating AI solutions into the government sector. Additionally, Kimmel develops operational frameworks for Writing.io to implement across the organization.
Her leadership philosophy is shaped by strong mentorship. She recently lost a mentor who was, as she describes, “a light in my life,” someone who was direct, hardworking and believed in showing up every day to do the work. That influence continues to inspire her to be her best self, even on the hardest days. Both of her most influential mentors have been women, and she acknowledges that working in government and technology can pose challenges for women. Still, she believes in being direct, an approach that may not always be easy but earns respect because she follows through and gets the work done.
Awards and Accolades
For her contributions to the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest and Hive Group, Kimmel has been acknowledged with awards and accolades. Most notably, she is a two-time recipient of the Employee of the Year Award through the Bucharest Employee Recreation Association and was acknowledged as Employee of the Month by Hive Group in 2024.
Civic and Membership Involvement
Outside of her professional career, Kimmel is involved in several civic and membership organizations. She has supported awareness through Rare Disease Day since 2014. Furthermore, she was a former chair of the board of trustees for the Bucharest Employee Recreation Association and currently serves as the executive liaison for the board at the Industry Partner Council. She is also part of the Central Kentucky Leadership Class of 2025-2026 and is a member of Women Leading Kentucky.
Emphasizing the Future Role of AI
Moving forward, Kimmel’s goal is to position Writing.io as a leading educational platform for integrating the three major open AI systems. In doing so, she emphasizes the importance of using AI technology safely and ethically and as a tool for enhancing learning rather than replacing people. Recognizing parallels with internet and AI literacy, Kimmel aims to advance the next generation of education by promoting AI learning for all ages.
Kimmel approaches her editorial features with the same collaborative mindset she brings to leadership: valuing partnership and synthesis of perspectives. When reflecting on her previous features, she noted that seeing how others interpreted her story helped her refine her message and “merge the two views” into something authentic and balanced.
