Melanie Ryan has thirty years of diverse experience as a finance executive, nonprofit founder, and business owner. She thrives in partnering with organizations and individuals to meet business and individual goals that are centered in the worth and value of people.
As Chief Financial Officer for Microsoft Education, she led strategy and planning, financial planning and analysis, and business decision support of a multi-billion dollar division. She was known as a people-centered leader and was an executive sponsor for the Early Career Talent Program and multiple DEI programs within the company.
She believes passionately in investing in her local community. Melanie has leveraged her experience in both the corporate and social sectors to identify needs in her community and subsequently founded two local nonprofits to provide solutions. Her ability to have a vision that is mission focused and executed with a strategic, systemic, and equitable lens built sustainable organizations that are successfully achieving goals, providing access, and closing opportunity gaps.
After retiring from Microsoft in 2021, Melanie focused full-time on coaching and consulting with a mission to empower organizations, communities, and individuals to achieve equitable, impactful, and sustaining change.
She leverages her experience to build capacity and skills that transform and create executive leaders. She is known for her ability to connect what people say to underlying root issues. She uses these connections to empower people to reach their full potential and assist organizations to build equitable cultures that are impactful, genuine, and sustaining.
Education
Masters in Social Work, University of Washington
B.A., Accounting (Literature Minor)
Certifications
Certified Culture Assessor
Certified Diversity & Belonging Facilitator
Certified Professional Diversity Coach
Certified Professional Accountant (Inactive)