Leaving a full-time salaried position with a reputable company was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. After all, I was leaving to take the risk of starting a business that was merely a concept at that point in time. The thought of failure was devastating, but the thought of staying at a job my heart wasn’t in was a lot scarier. On paper, my job looked amazing—I could check off all the boxes of leading a successful life. But I wasn’t passionate about it, and I wasn’t making the impact I wanted to make. I was also part of a large corporation, where what I was doing didn’t influence anything on a major level. I felt invisible and my work seemed meaningless.
So I took a chance, developed my idea for a kind of product that barely existed at that time and made it come to life.
My employees are my most important assets, and I’ve worked hard to manage our growth rate and stay connected to every member of my team. I also encourage team members to connect with one another. They can see the difference their work makes, and I can see the impact my company has out in the world.
A little more than six years ago, what I wanted didn’t exist. And now? I bet everyone reading this has at least dozen apps on their smartphone. And who knows—my company may have developed one of them. And that’s a pretty amazing feeling.
On Finding Success and Staying Competitive
To stay competitive in my industry, I do my best to stay visible through speaking engagements, events, and conferences. Being seen as a leader is extremely important, especially to those who are looking up to you or considering your industry for career opportunities. I’ve found ways to stand out in a room full of people, and I know I have just as much knowledge and insight to offer as anyone.
On Facing Challenges
When it comes to challenges, one of the least talked about struggles is dealing with people who have personalities different from our own. Constantly having to adjust, understand, and communicate with various types of people (with various perspectives) isn’t always easy, especially in a professional setting.
Melody’s Advice to Young Women Starting Careers
My advice to young women is to become resilient. This isn’t something that you learn from a book, but it is a skill that can be developed with practice and persistence. We often think of failure as bad, but my biggest failures have helped me grow. So remember your failures, but don’t dwell on them. And don’t make the same mistake twice.
