Melissa Harrison
Founder and CEO at Allee Creative
Marketing and Advertising
Education: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Biography
As CEO at Allee Creative, Melissa Harrison is a sought-after marketing consultant and speaker. For two decades, Melissa has developed content marketing strategies for brands across the globe. Melissa makes audiences laugh and inspires them with real situations and answers to dive into the things that are often scary, but necessary for growth. She teaches business leaders how to embrace change and engage internal and external audiences. Melissa connects on a personal level because she’s been there before—building up companies (including her own) through recessions and turnovers. She rolls up her sleeves right with you and gets to work.
Melissa’s accolades include: 2023 Enterprising Woman of the Year Award, 2022 Notable Marketing Leader (Twin Cities Business); Top 100 Content Marketer (Content Marketing Institute); Top Young Entrepreneur (Minnesota Business Magazine) and a Mover & Shaker (Star Tribune). She is a four-time recipient of the Hermes Creative Award and a sought-after international speaker. She was named one of 100 women to watch in the U.S. as part of The Inspirational Woman Project and was chosen for the Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders program. Melissa was also inducted into the DeForest Area High School Alumni Hall of Fame for her outstanding achievements in the marketing industry.
Melissa is an international speaker, presenting break-out sessions, workshops, panel discussions and keynotes. Her presentations are thought-provoking and hands-on, presenting information in a way that is relevant to individual audiences and companies. She speaks on the topics of content marketing, business strategy, nonprofit management, digital media, entrepreneurship and leadership, among others.
Passion
I love sharing my story with others -- how I got started, the challenges I faced (and still face) and how this whole "work/life" balance thing pans out (or doesn't pan out, depending on the day!). I also like to hear stories from other women. Whenever I can mix in personal stories into a speaking engagement- whether it’s from my family life, one of my four kids or my passion for building a successful business, I'm all for it!
Origin Story
The short version - I was 26 years old and just found out I was pregnant with our second child. I loathed my new job, which I had just recently taken after many years at a wonderful company, because I wanted to move to the "next level" in my career. So, one day while at work, I called my husband and said, "I'm going to quit my job today." He was 100% supportive, and I gave my notice that day. This began the process of starting my own company...while pregnant, during a recession. But, there’s so much more to my story, from the influences during my childhood, to high school and college, to my very first mentor and boss. I share these stories in my presentations. Being a woman entrepreneur isn't easy, but it's rewarding. I'm not afraid to talk about where I've been and the challenges I've overcome to get where I am today.
Example talks
Grow Loudly: How Women-Led Brands Can Build Influence Through Content
You don’t need a massive following or a marketing team to make your voice heard—you need clarity, confidence and a strategy that fits your life and your business. In this empowering session, we’ll explore how women leaders and entrepreneurs can use content to build trust, attract aligned opportunities and grow their influence on their own terms. From social media to thought leadership, learn how to step into visibility with purpose—not pressure.
Smart Content in the Age of AI: How B2B Brands Can Stay Human and Competitive
AI is changing the way we create and consume content—but the brands that win will be the ones who stay human. As a marketing leader, learn how to navigate the AI landscape with a content strategy that’s ethical, scalable and still rooted in real connection. Learn how to work smarter with generative AI without sacrificing trust, tone or brand voice.
Six Generations, One Brand: How to Market Across an Age-Diverse Audience
Today’s market includes six active generations—from Alphas to the Silent Generation—each with unique expectations, buying habits and trust factors. How can your brand stay consistent while resonating with such a diverse audience? Together we will break down generational marketing myths, explore what truly drives behavior by age group and give you a clear framework for building campaigns that connect across the spectrum.
B2B Is Human Too: Rebuilding Trust Through Buyer-Centric Marketing
Behind every B2B decision is a human. Discover how to shift your marketing from product-heavy messaging to empathy-led communication that builds trust and loyalty. In complex or regulated industries, buyer-centric marketing is the competitive advantage that turns leads into long-term clients. Learn how to humanize messaging, align with real buyer needs and embed empathy into your marketing strategy.
Marketing Doesn’t Have to Be Everywhere: How to Build a 3-Channel Growth Strategy That Works
You don’t need to be on every platform—you need to be where it counts. Stop the content chaos and focus on the three most effective marketing channels for your audience, goals and capacity. Learn how to prioritize your time, scale what’s working, and leverage paid, earned, shared and owned media through specific channels selections without sacrificing growth.
Less Content, More Strategy: The Secret to Effective Marketing
Content for content’s sake is out. Explore how high-performing brands are reducing content volume and increasing impact. Learn how to build a smarter content system that delivers real ROI without overloading your team. Discover how to create a content prioritization framework with examples of high-impact content systems and guidance on cutting waste. This is your roadmap to doing less—and getting better results.
The Metrics That Matter: Proving ROI in Complex, Risk-Averse Industries
How do you prove marketing is working—especially when your industry resists change? Let’s unpack the metrics that truly matter in complex environments and how to report them in ways that stakeholders trust. Perfect for marketers tasked with bridging the gap between creative work and bottom-line results.
Secrets of a successful woman entrepreneur
From a start-up during the Great Recession to a company that just hit a milestone of $1M, Melissa will share her story on getting started, tapping into your network and how to navigate bumps in the road. She’ll share the realities of starting a business, hints for staying organized and why she is 100% OK without having email on her phone.
This is discussion is for any woman working to pursue her passion or move up in her field; women at any stage in their careers – beginners can gain confidence and learn what to expect while seasoned professionals can hear tips for handling challenges and gain confidence to continue moving forward.
Featured Video
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
I generally get paid for speaking but make exceptions
Topics
Origin Story
The short version - I was 26 years old and just found out I was pregnant with our second child. I loathed my new job, which I had just recently taken after many years at a wonderful company, because I wanted to move to the "next level" in my career. So, one day while at work, I called my husband and said, "I'm going to quit my job today." He was 100% supportive, and I gave my notice that day. This began the process of starting my own company...while pregnant, during a recession. But, there’s so much more to my story, from the influences during my childhood, to high school and college, to my very first mentor and boss. I share these stories in my presentations. Being a woman entrepreneur isn't easy, but it's rewarding. I'm not afraid to talk about where I've been and the challenges I've overcome to get where I am today.
Example talks
Grow Loudly: How Women-Led Brands Can Build Influence Through Content
You don’t need a massive following or a marketing team to make your voice heard—you need clarity, confidence and a strategy that fits your life and your business. In this empowering session, we’ll explore how women leaders and entrepreneurs can use content to build trust, attract aligned opportunities and grow their influence on their own terms. From social media to thought leadership, learn how to step into visibility with purpose—not pressure.
Smart Content in the Age of AI: How B2B Brands Can Stay Human and Competitive
AI is changing the way we create and consume content—but the brands that win will be the ones who stay human. As a marketing leader, learn how to navigate the AI landscape with a content strategy that’s ethical, scalable and still rooted in real connection. Learn how to work smarter with generative AI without sacrificing trust, tone or brand voice.
Six Generations, One Brand: How to Market Across an Age-Diverse Audience
Today’s market includes six active generations—from Alphas to the Silent Generation—each with unique expectations, buying habits and trust factors. How can your brand stay consistent while resonating with such a diverse audience? Together we will break down generational marketing myths, explore what truly drives behavior by age group and give you a clear framework for building campaigns that connect across the spectrum.
B2B Is Human Too: Rebuilding Trust Through Buyer-Centric Marketing
Behind every B2B decision is a human. Discover how to shift your marketing from product-heavy messaging to empathy-led communication that builds trust and loyalty. In complex or regulated industries, buyer-centric marketing is the competitive advantage that turns leads into long-term clients. Learn how to humanize messaging, align with real buyer needs and embed empathy into your marketing strategy.
Marketing Doesn’t Have to Be Everywhere: How to Build a 3-Channel Growth Strategy That Works
You don’t need to be on every platform—you need to be where it counts. Stop the content chaos and focus on the three most effective marketing channels for your audience, goals and capacity. Learn how to prioritize your time, scale what’s working, and leverage paid, earned, shared and owned media through specific channels selections without sacrificing growth.
Less Content, More Strategy: The Secret to Effective Marketing
Content for content’s sake is out. Explore how high-performing brands are reducing content volume and increasing impact. Learn how to build a smarter content system that delivers real ROI without overloading your team. Discover how to create a content prioritization framework with examples of high-impact content systems and guidance on cutting waste. This is your roadmap to doing less—and getting better results.
The Metrics That Matter: Proving ROI in Complex, Risk-Averse Industries
How do you prove marketing is working—especially when your industry resists change? Let’s unpack the metrics that truly matter in complex environments and how to report them in ways that stakeholders trust. Perfect for marketers tasked with bridging the gap between creative work and bottom-line results.
Secrets of a successful woman entrepreneur
From a start-up during the Great Recession to a company that just hit a milestone of $1M, Melissa will share her story on getting started, tapping into your network and how to navigate bumps in the road. She’ll share the realities of starting a business, hints for staying organized and why she is 100% OK without having email on her phone.
This is discussion is for any woman working to pursue her passion or move up in her field; women at any stage in their careers – beginners can gain confidence and learn what to expect while seasoned professionals can hear tips for handling challenges and gain confidence to continue moving forward.