39: "Follow Your Curiosity to a Career You Love" with Melanie Bender, VP of Marketing & Brand Development at Clique
Chances are good that at some point in your career, you've felt the familiar twinge of boredom creep in. It typically begins with a sense of "been there, accomplished that", and can end with mentally checking out and phoning it in. Melanie Bender has avoided the boredom curse in her career by following her insatiable curiosity about how people and things work. This has led her to study topics across data science, web development, media, consumer behavior, innovation culture, and business management. Melanie's latest curiosity quest has led her to become the VP of Marketing and Brand Development at Clique - one of Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies.
About Melanie:
Melanie bridges brand strategy, marketing, and growth to build digital-first, consumer-obsessed businesses. She’s built a billion-dollar brand, founded a consulting firm working with Sephora and Li & Fung, and spoken at SXSW on the Future of Retail.
As Vice President of Marketing and Brand Development at Clique - one of Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies - Melanie shapes the Consumer Brands vision and strategy while spearheading development, marketing, and growth for the company's portfolio of community-driven fashion and beauty brands, including Who What Wear and JoyLab.
Prior to Clique, Melanie played a key role in Westfield's current and future customer strategy, leading brand strategy and marketing for a one-billion-dollar development. She was also a core member of Westfield's Future of Retail team, collaborating across disciplines to lead the convergence of tech, culture, and commerce. At 24, Melanie co-founded Post+Beam, a marketing consultancy helping brands reach millennials through emerging digital channels, with clients including Sephora, Li & Fung and Make Up For Ever.
Melanie’s insatiable curiosity about how people and things work has led her to study topics across data science, web development, media, consumer behavior, innovation culture, business management, and running in heels.
Website: melaniezbender.com
