In this episode of In the Field: The ABA Podcast, I chat with Mellanie Page, CEO of The ABA Collective and Executive VP of Operations at ABS Kids. Mellanie brings a rare blend of clinical and operational insight to the world of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), offering a practical and accessible approach to making meaningful change from within ABA organizations.

Key Topics:

From Clinical to Operational Leadership:
Mellanie shares how her unexpected transition into operations led her to pursue an MBA and, ultimately, build learning programs that bridge the gap between business strategy and clinical excellence.

What is OBM, Really?
We break down the broad umbrella of OBM—what it is, how it differs from traditional ABA, and the subspecialties within it, such as performance management, safety, and instructional design.

Practical OBM in Action:
Mellanie walks us through her “Practical OBM” framework, designed to help everyday BCBAs apply OBM in their current roles. Learn how pinpointing high-impact behaviors and aligning systems can lead to powerful organizational change.

Job Crafting and Burnout Recovery:
Discover how OBM skills can help you reshape your current role to align better with your values, reduce burnout, and increase job satisfaction—without needing a new job title.

Bridging the Science with Systems Thinking:
From motivational interviewing to change management, Mellanie shares how she integrates soft skills with hard data to build sustainable, values-aligned systems of improvement.

Getting Buy-In as a Practitioner:
Learn how to communicate your ideas in a way that resonates with leadership, by framing them around organizational values, ROI, and layered system alignment.

Key Takeaways:

• You don’t need to wait for permission to start using OBM—change can start within your own caseload or team.
• OBM isn’t about titles or certifications; it’s about building skills that create meaningful, scalable impact.
• The most effective organizational change starts with small, clearly defined, high-impact behaviors.
• Understanding stakeholder values and system alignment is critical to making sustainable improvements.
• OBM and instructional design are deeply aligned in their focus on performance, outcomes, and practical implementation.

Connect with Mellanie and The ABA Collective:

• Website: https://www.theabacollective.com/
• LinkedIn: Mellanie Page
• Instagram: @theabacollective
• Upcoming Events:
  • OBM Practitioner Program: 12-week cohort-based experience for designing and implementing real OBM projects with group coaching and support.
  • Digital Clinician: A program for clinicians interested in creating digital products and leveraging online business models to scale their impact.
  • Business of ABA Conference: A virtual event happening in September focused on operations, strategy, and growing with quality in mind.
  • Free CEUs: Monthly workshops on practical applications of OBM and ABA in real-world settings.

Disclaimer:

BCBA®, BACB® [or any other BACB® trademark used] is/are registered to the Behavior Analytic Certification Board® BACB®. This website and products are not in any way sponsored by the BACB®.

All information and products are for educational purposes only.