Heya, I’m Melissa—systems thinker and design strategy leader. I bring 20+ years of experience in innovation and UX/CX, modernizing digital experiences and communications for global brands. I bring a Swiss Army Knife of complimentary talents for agility in the tech space. This allows me to quickly and easily adapt and evolve in our ever-changing world. I geek out on emerging tech and appreciate the mental stimulation change brings.I’m also an emotionally intelligent “people person” who loves building deep relationships. I’m big on collaborating to create a positive culture that feels fun and playful, inspiring and inclusive. I’m passionate about making people’s lives happier and healthier. I love caring for people, making friends, building trust and earning respect as a long-term partner.My greatest natural gift is leadership—teaching, mentoring, coaching, and managing teams to bring out their brightest thinking and best selves. I thrive in moments when we simply need to figure things out together. I’m the oldest of five kids so I’ve been a leader in training since childhood. I’m confident leading initiatives end-to-end from research to strategy, design to development, launch to measurement, optimizations and beyond. It excites me to problem solve and co-create better ways of doing everything.I do this with the help of strategy and leadership expertise from my master's degree at Parsons School of Design & The New School. (I now teach there as a part-time professor to pay it forward to the next generation.) My secret weapons are advanced design and writing skills picked up during my bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies. Communication is key to nearly everything, so art and copy chops help elevate storytelling.I’ve continued my education in digital marketing at University of the Arts in London, School of Visual Arts in NYC and the Kansas City Art Institute. I'm a perpetual learner who loves sharing knowledge on emerging trends in technology and culture.I've been a trusted advisor to the world's biggest brands: Amazon, P&G, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, Hyatt Hotels, Neutrogena, Dove, Olay, Venus, Gillette, Mondelez, Kraft Heinz, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Comcast, AT&T, Diageo, Stella Artois, Ketel One, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Ciroc, Wingstop, Nabisco, Samsonite, Express, Calvin Klein, Neiman Marcus, Best Buy, Hallmark, WeWork, St. Regis Hotels, Tyson Foodservice, One&Only Luxury Resorts, GE, Henkel, Berkshire Hathaway, The Ritz-Carlton Hotels, and MTA of New York.