As a CSuite business leader, entrepreneur, and public speaker, Melva LaJoy Legrand has been committed to using her over 20 years of experience in education and production, to help individuals, and companies elevate their missions rooted in social justice, educational access, climate change, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Additionally, she has worked closely with executive leaders to create organizational cultures that support overall wellness, encourages feedback, values empathy, and authenticity within their leadership teams. Recognized nationally for her thought leadership, Melva is a 5x award-winning CEO that has used her social impact to grace the stages of IMEX Frankfurt (2024) and IMEX America (2023), the One Women’s Summit (2022), IBTM Americas (2022), four cities for BizBash’s Connect Conference (2022), and the Tide Risers Summit (2021). She has been featured in Forbes, Authority Magazine, Washingtonian, The Black Wall Street Times, HQ The Association, and more, speaking to the issues surrounding the gender pay gap, redefining what success looks like for mature women, navigating career changes, being an ally for Black women in the workplace, and building a legacy business through impact. Having relaunched her business in 2019 only to lose 98% of it during the COVID pandemic, Melva embraced the pivot and re-established her business offerings to build her company to where it currently stands: achieving footprints in 38 states, working with budgets in excess of $1.5 Million, and hosting notable attendees such as the Inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda C. Gorman; Netflix co-founder and Executive Chairman, Reed Hastings; civil rights icon, author, and founder of The National Memorial of Peace and Justice, Bryan Stevenson; along with former and current US Secretaries of Education, Dr. John B. King Jr. and Dr. Miguel Cardona. In 2023, Melva LaJoy launched her video subscription series, Mondays with Melva, writing, producing, and starring in 2 Seasons and 8 Episodes dedicated to business, leadership, and career advice. On top of being dedicated to creating community among minority entrepreneurs, Melva has been the CEO and Founder of DC-based event planning firm, LaJoy Plans focused on working with mission-focused organizations rooted in causes such as education equity, social justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, global warming, healthcare, Black beauty standards and more, Melva is known as a trailblazer in her industry.