When Melissa and I met, she had been asked to lead a newly formed distribution channel that resulted from a joining of 2 teams with different products, clients and leaders. She was tasked with identifying the right players to lead the team to success in short order, while building an effective distribution strategy, brand new product, a unifying culture, all the while driving revenue. That was over 7 years ago. In that time, she overhauled that organization and built something solid and steadfast out of what was extremely fragmented and unstable.

Melissa was an incredibly impactful mentor. She taught me how to lead with my why, listen more than talk, sell in even the most difficult situations, and use the delicate balance of art and science to drive results. She has high expectations, holds her people accountable, but motivates you to strive for constant excellence, while having fun along the way.

She embodies what it means to lead and do so in the most difficult circumstances. I not only worked for Melissa but was fortunate to be mentored by her and now call her a good friend. As a woman, it’s not often you have the opportunity to work for a female leader, let alone one that isn’t threatened by other women or deemed unapproachable. My hope is that she is able to lead others, and most certainly women, to succeed the way she did me and my peers while at Brighthouse.

Working alongside Melissa Cox at Brighthouse Financial was an extraordinary experience. Melissa is not just a sales leader; she’s a visionary who truly values her team and embraces feedback to foster growth and improvement.

She successfully introduced a new product in an untapped distribution channel and assembled a stellar team to drive it – which led to exponential growth in a core line of business.

Melissa is a master of execution. Her executive presence and readiness are unparalleled; she can take the stage at a moment’s notice and deliver compelling, unscripted remarks that resonate with audiences of any size.

As a sales strategist and an inspirational figure, Melissa has imparted wisdom that has been instrumental in my professional development. I look forward to any opportunity to work with her again in the future.