Melissa Fors Shackelford

Melissa Fors Shackelford is a nationally recognized marketing strategist, author, and speaker with over two decades of experience leading transformational brand and growth initiatives in the healthcare, nonprofit, and tech sectors. As the founder of Shackelford Strategies, she advises mission-driven organizations and startups on how to scale with integrity, tell more inclusive stories, and lead with purpose.

Melissa is a sought-after speaker known for her engaging, insight-rich sessions on purpose-driven marketing, brand strategy, inclusive communication, and ethical leadership. Her keynotes and workshops consistently draw praise for blending big-picture inspiration with actionable tools.

She has presented at some of the nation’s most respected conferences and institutions, including:

• The American Marketing Association
• The Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD) of the American Hospital Association
• The Forum for Healthcare Strategists (HMPS)
• The University of Minnesota Women’s Leadership Conference
• The Mid-Atlantic Society for Healthcare Strategy
• The National Association on Addiction
• Mental Health Marketing Conference
• The University of North Dakota Olafsen Ethics Symposium

As the author of Harnessing Purpose: A Marketer’s Guide to Inspiring Connection, Melissa equips leaders with practical strategies to align brand, culture, and communication—fostering stronger connections with customers, teams, and communities.

Throughout her career, she has held executive roles at leading organizations such as Optum, Cigna’s Evernorth, Hazelden Betty Ford, and LetsGetChecked. Melissa has been honored as Nonprofit Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association, received the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Award, and was named one of the Top 50 Women in Healthcare.

Her signature talks include:

· The Hidden Power of Purpose: Why Meaning, Not Money, Will Shape the Future

·
Breaking Barriers: Understanding and Addressing Stigma in Healthcare Marketing

· Speak with Purpose: How Authentic Communication Builds Trust, Loyalty, and Brand Integrity

· Harnessing Purpose: How Marketers Can Lead with Meaning—and Still Drive Results

· Marketing With a Conscience: Reclaiming Integrity and Ethics in a Purpose-Driven Age

· AI Can’t Rebuild Trust: The Human Side of Innovation in Healthcare

Driven by a deep belief that marketing can be a force for good, Melissa helps leaders and teams turn purpose into performance—and vision into action. See more at https://MelissaForsShackelford.com