Marketing & Growth Consultant
Startup Advisor
Fractional CMO
Board Director
Best Selling Author
Keynote Speaker
Marketing & Growth Consultant
Startup Advisor
Fractional CMO
Board Director
Best Selling Author
Keynote Speaker
Speaker Reel: Melissa Fors Shackelford
TEDX Duluth: How to make purpose your lifeline
ABout Melissa
I'm Melissa Fors Shackelford, a marketing and growth strategist, advisor, and healthcare consultant based in Minneapolis. I help purpose-driven leaders and organizations clarify their voice, connect with the right audiences, and grow with integrity.
For more than 25 years, I've worked at the intersection of healthcare, brand strategy, and mission-focused marketing. I've led national campaigns, guided high-growth startups, and supported Fortune 50 healthcare brands, always with a focus on building connection and trust in complex, human systems.
Today, I run Shackelford Strategies, where I partner with founders, CEOs, and executive teams to bring clarity to growth. Whether I'm helping to shape a brand's positioning, launching a new service, or advising on communications during rapid change, my work is always grounded in strategic insight and a deep respect for people and purpose.
I also speak and write on the topics I care most about: brand purpose, marketing ethics, and the board's role in governing trust and reputation. My TEDxDuluth talk on resilience has reached more than 30,000 viewers, and I've delivered keynotes at events and conferences. I'm a regular podcast guest and contributor to publications like NACD Directorship, CXO Magazine, MedCity News and The Women We Admire, and I serve as a director and Nominating & Governance Committee Chair at Asbury Communities. My book, Harnessing Purpose: A Marketer's Guide to Inspiring Connection, is a #1 Amazon bestseller.
Outside of work, I live in Minneapolis with my husband, our very opinionated Shih Tzu, and three brilliant adult stepdaughters. I've lived abroad and still study Japanese, a language I continue to learn and love. I hold an MBA in Marketing from the University of St. Thomas and a BA from the University of Minnesota, and I'm an NACD.DC certified board director.
Copyright © 2026 Melissa Fors Shackelford - All Rights Reserved.
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.