Melissa Harris is an accomplished businesswoman with a diverse background that includes journalism, private equity, and entrepreneurship. With degrees from top universities like Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, she has built a reputation as a skilled marketer and communicator.

After a successful career as a business columnist for the Chicago Tribune, Melissa decided to take a leap of faith and start her own company, M. Harris & Co. Five years later, her firm has become one of the fastest-growing marketing firms in the Midwest, with more than 50 clients from across the nation.

Melissa's expertise has earned her several accolades, including a 2017 Reed Award from Campaigns & Elections and a 2017 Golden Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago.

Melissa is involved in various organizations, including serving as a governing board member for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and serving as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago.

Melissa is based in Chicago with her family, but her influence is far-reaching, as she has worked with some of the country's most prominent entrepreneurs, including Guggenheim Partners CEO Mark Walter and Women's Justice Institute co-founder Deanne Benos.