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January 27, 2025 38 mins

Introduction:

Welcome back to Grit, Grace, and Growth! I’m your host, Laura Navaquin, and today we’re diving into the art and strategy behind building unstoppable partnerships that can fuel business success and brand growth. Whether you’re in the early stages of your business or scaling to new heights, the partnerships you form can make all the difference.


About Our Guest:

Today’s guest is Melissa Richards-Person, a marketing powerhouse with 25 years of experience driving global brand engagement and loyalty. Having worked across four continents and five languages, Melissa has led brand strategies for major names like KFC, Papa John’s, Starbucks, and Olive Garden. Her unique perspective and expertise in brand-led growth have made her an invaluable advisor to C-suite leaders and founders alike. I’m excited to learn from Melissa’s insights on how to create partnerships that truly move the needle. Welcome to the show, Melissa!


Key Discussion Points:

  • Foundation for Building Partnerships:
    Melissa shares her insights on the essential elements that form the foundation for building effective and unstoppable partnerships.

  • Key Strategies with Major Brands:
    Learn about the strategies Melissa used to forge strong partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders in iconic brands like KFC and Starbucks.

  • Common Mistakes to Avoid:
    Melissa discusses common pitfalls businesses encounter when trying to build lasting partnerships and offers advice on how to avoid these mistakes

  • Advice for Smaller Businesses:
    Melissa offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs and smaller businesses on how to create powerful partnerships that can still make a significant impact, even without the reach of larger brands.


Closing:

Melissa, thank you so much for sharing your incredible insights and experiences with us today. Your perspective on building unstoppable partnerships, especially from such a diverse and global background, has been invaluable. For anyone looking to learn more about Melissa’s work and strategies, be sure to check out the show notes for more information.

Remember, great partnerships are built on trust, vision, and collaboration—and when done right, they can lead to extraordinary growth. Thanks again for joining us, and until next time, keep growing with grit, grace, and a little help from your unstoppable partners.


Resources & Links:



Connect with Melissa Richards-Person


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