Getting laid off in 2009 was the best thing to have happened to me, but I had no idea at the time.I started running free job seeker workshops. Back then, the idea of using LinkedIn to find a job was fairly new. So I got very good very quickly at helping people in similar situations to me.A year and a half later, I was still without a paid jobThen, coffee with a neighbor changed everything. I shared how I was running these workshops… He turned out to be Director of Sales Effectiveness at LinkedInNot long after that coffee, I started working at LinkedIn. No resume. No interview. Just trust and word of mouth.I used these very same principles in 2014 when I looked for a women’s veteran group near me.There was nothing (only the “good ole’ boys club”).So I took matters into my own hands. I emailed my contacts, posted on social media, hustled locally…Women Veterans Alliance was born.It also led me to start a nonprofit wing (Women Veterans Giving), an online store with womenveteran-specific merchandise, Women Veterans Unconference, and Women Veterans Magazine.The combined forces of all these efforts have… - Brought together thousands of women veterans - Raised over $20k+ for women veteran business owners- Created the ONLY online directory for women-owned veteran businessesI’ve also published a book (“Get Back To Work”) and written a chapter in another (“Unstoppable: Being Fierce, Fearless & Unf*ckwithable in Life and Business”).Today my goal is to *INSPIRE* *EDUCATE* and *MOTIVATE* with my story.I've spoken to audiences at NAWBO, Sacramento Business Journal, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) — among many others. I have talks on:• Building a Community• Growing a Business• Empowering WomenPlus others that can be adapted to your needs. Book me to inspire your organization:📩 melissa@melissawashington.com📱530.830.1915=========🏆 AWARDS- 2011: Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 - 2016: Soroptimist Ruby Award for women helping women- 2017: An honoree by the Journal’s Women Who Mean Business - 2019: Center for Women Veterans’ Trailblazer - 2021: National Women of Influence Appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, Lifetime Channel’s The Balancing Act, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox (among others)