Biography
Melissa Harris makes her clients unforgettable. As CEO and founder of marketing firm M. Harris & Co., she’s grown the company to nearly $4.5 million in annual revenue.
The firm specializes in science communications — climate, public health and advanced technology — and helps clients like the American Academy of Pediatrics, Purdue University and Rolls-Royce explain science and their technology to the public.
Her book, Everybody Needs an Editor, was published by Simon & Schuster. Co-written with Jenn Bane, the book was named one of the Top 40 business books and Top 5 marketing/communications books of 2024 by the Porchlight Book Company; it was also long-listed for a Non-Obvious Book Award.
Alongside Pulitzer Prize winning writer Mary Schmich, Melissa founded the media company Mary & Melissa Productions and produced a seven-part podcast series called Division Street Revisited, which you can listen to on all major podcast platforms. PRX distributed the show, and Chicago’s WBEZ and New York’s WNYC aired it.
As you can see, she thrives at warp speed. That's because she launched her career as a journalist, capping 15 years in media as a business columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
After leaving journalism, she earned an MBA and while working at a private equity firm as vice president of marketing. She helped raise more than $70 million and launched its online investing platform.
Melissa holds degrees from the University of Chicago (MBA), Johns Hopkins University (MA Government) and Northwestern University (BS Journalism). She also serves as a governing board member for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Melissa and her husband live with their two children in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood. Read more on LinkedIn.
Academic Areas
- Entrepreneurship