I'm a former head of sales. Start ups are my jam. I've seen exits and I've seen failures. I know it works and what gets in the way. I love black coffee, organizing, and the Yankees.
Incredibly organized, charismatic and eager to help the team. Sets expectations and follows through with what she says she will do.
MH
McArdle HankinCo-founder, Back Pocket
I'd highly recommend Melissa if you're in need of a smart, savvy and effective player-coach business development lead. She's also a pleasure to deal with.
For my small digital media-magazine business she created a top strategy and then very quickly implemented a tactical plan to build a pipeline. I was impressed with 1) how fast she was able to ramp up, 2) how she worked with what we had to begin outreach (using existing contacts, subs), and 3) she created fast results.
CW
Chris WalshPresident, Fifty Grande
Melissa couples decades of experience in sales and sales management with a strategic and entrepreneurial business sense. She hires great people and gets the best out of them, and she's a candid, clear communicator with colleagues and the rest of the leadership team.
Sold in the concept and helped produce films for biotech company Abcam. It was a short series of video profiles of scientists to explore the moment they fell in love with science.
Created company's first go-to market revenue strategy.
Put together pipeline of customers in less than two months.
Defined product strategy across print and digital offerings.
Nov 2023 — Apr 2024
Back Pocket Media
Fractional Head of Sales Strategy
Back Pocket Media is an award-winning team of journalists and storytellers who have partnered with hundreds of writers, reporters, and artists across the country to feature journalism, art, and music on stage.
Created go-to market sales strategy.
Set and attended client meetings.
Provided guidance on marketing materials and plans.
Feb 2023 — Nov 2023
The Rebooting
Fractional COO
Founded by Brian Morrissey, The Rebooting explores how to build sustainable businesses in a rapidly changing media industry. The Rebooting newsletter and podcast is heavily consumer by over 20,000 subscribed business executives.
Partnered with CEO on go-to market sales strategy.
Created operational flow for clients pre & post sale.
Identified ideal client set and set up sales meetings which drove revenue.
Jun 2019 — Jun 2023
Pop-Up Magazine
Head of Sales
Pop-Up Magazine Productions made the touring live magazine show, Pop-Up Magazine, and, from 2014-2020, published the California Sunday Magazine, which was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2021.
Oversaw sales team responsible for selling live advertising onstage.
Continued to grow revenue throughout covid when company was forced to shut down live performances and move entirely online.
Our team sold multi-channel projects to repeat clients like Google, Chanel, Mailchimp, Patagonia and The Botanist Gin
Jan 2012 — Sep 2017
Taykey
Head of Sales
Taykey was a Sequoia and Softbank-backed startup that had deep tech roots in social listening, trend detection and trend-based media activation on platforms such as Google and Facebook. Taykey was acquired by Innovid.
First hire revenue hire and built national sales force opening offices across the country.
Created sales strategy, led forecasting, budgeting, and team building.
Oversaw the establishment of channel partnerships and trained outside sales organizations.
Active involvement with board and investors.
Dec 2010 — Jan 2012
FM
Federated Media
Regional Sales Manager
A pioneer in content marketing Federated Media by John Battelle was a trusted partner, connecting brands to a community of high-quality and authentic content (at the top known as "blogs").
Sold digital media programs across portfolio of independent websites
Partnered on custom content sponsorships with both agencies and brands
Achieved +120% of sales goals during tenure
Oct 2004 — Jun 2009
ZS
Zagat Survey
Senior Account Executive
Zagat was an iconic ratings and review publisher.
Sold Zagat content as marketing solutions to corporate clients across digital media, print, and licensing
Reached 100% of sales goals throughout each year of tenure
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