Melissa Dawn Simkins has a diverse work experience in various leadership, media, and entertainment roles. In 2002, they worked as a Media & Entertainment Executive at Procter & Gamble, where they developed strategic partnerships for publicity and promotion. From 2006, they became the CEO and Leadership Innovation Strategist at Velvet Suite, Inc., where they developed a methodology called ID3 (TM) to empower future-ready leaders. In 2008, they started working as a Media Contributor & Host for various media outlets. In 2009, they hosted a weekly segment called Morning Motivation on CNN and CNN International. Starting from 2015, they served as a Board Member at the SHRM Foundation and also became a Member of the Board of Trustees and Business Strategist at Otterbein University. In 2016, they founded The She-Suite, a platform focused on empowering women in leadership. Since 2019, they have been the Host of the SHRM2019 and 2021 Conferences, introducing notable speakers and managing large events. Melissa's work experience showcases their expertise in leadership innovation, media hosting, and strategic partnerships.
Melissa Dawn Simkins completed their BA degree in Public Relations and Business at Otterbein University, where they studied from 1995 to 1999. Following this, they pursued a Masters of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication at Northwestern University, where they studied from 1999 to 2001, emphasizing on marketing.
Current role