Melinda Emerson

CEO, Quintessence Group President, SmallBizLady Enterprises

Nine years ago, before Melinda Emerson became known internationally as the “SmallBizLady,” she wrote a book called Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months. “I wrote it because I wanted other business owners to not make the same mistakes I had made in my business,” she says.

Filled with straight talk and practical advice, Emerson’s book resonated with small-business owners throughout the world and went on to become an international best-seller.

The businesswoman in her saw an opportunity to create a brand around the “SmallBizLady” moniker. She’s traveled as far as Singapore, China and France, giving talks and hosting workshops on topics of interest to small-business owners and entrepreneurs. 

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“I’ve worked with more than 150 brands over the past 10 years on small-business-related projects,” Emerson says.

She’s also been a columnist for the Huffington Post and the New York Times, and www.SucceedAsYourOwnBoss.com is her blog.

All the while managing her title as “America’s #1 Small Business Expert,” Emerson has continued to lead her first business, the Quintessence Group, which she started when she was 26 years old. The boutique marketing consulting firm works with Fortune 500 companies that target the small-business market.

This month, her second book, Fix Your Business: A 90-Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business, is being released. “I love small business, because I love the ideas,” she says. “I rarely hear bad business ideas, but I see poor execution everywhere. That’s what I’m trying to fix.”

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