Failing Fast, Failing Forward, and Failing Up: Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned!

Melinda drives the passion, vision, and results for a practical, but edge of the art technology platform. She balances actionable customer intelligence with strategic plans that delivers win-win client solutions. Melinda has an 'Oz Factor': heart, courage, and brains - that equips partners to connect with customers using 21st century tools to drive real, measurable, and pivotal results.

When I asked for a go-to serial female entrepreneur who could wow a crowd and provide tangible advice to millenial women in the workforce, the go-to response was: "Talk to Melinda." She delivered an impressive, genuine, and actionable speech at Google, where her passion for algorithms and data exuded along with her desire to connect and empower young entrepreneurs. Melinda's insight is based in her deep repository of experiences and expertise in journalism and data, but translates to both young and seasoned entrepreneurs alike. Audience members at the Google event noted that her advice was real, relatable, and readily implemented. I highly recommend working with Melinda and considering her as your #1 resource to deliver a creative and thoughtful presentation that feels directly applicable to each person in the audience.

Melinda is on a personal mission to transform the process of consuming news and social media feeds. She has deep experience and understanding of these areas, and how to create needed changes. As a CEO and leader she has a rare combination of qualities: Extremely competent, insightful, innovative, inspiring, and tireless.

I've worked directly with Melinda as an advisor to NewsIT & Verifeed. Her ability to bring together a team, identify the appropriate course of action and then execute directly is impressive, as is her ability to recognize opportunities and refine her strategy accordingly. She brings energy, drive and passion to every aspect of her work.

Melinda is one of the most energetic of journalists and news managers, in a field known for its high demands. Melinda's tireless work to create, develop, manage and extend Capitol News Connection in the midst of the DC whirlwind is simply amazing. Melinda exceeds expectations, time after time.

Melinda has mastered the rare combination of broad conceptual vision, realistic strategic planning, keen attention to detail, and superhuman work ethic.

As a founding board member of Pundit Productions (recruited by Pundit himself), I had immediate confidence in her plan to attract principled journalists and create a new model for Congressional news coverage. Having never worked with Melinda before (but seen many others get mired down in DC ventures), I was amazed how quickly Melinda and her team earned industry accolades and amassed media subscribers.

Melinda is a radio pioneer and, with CNC, she has created in just a few short years, one of the most valuble news sources on Capital Hill. Her insight has been invaluable to me and my clients.

I've watched Melinda build Capitol News Connection over the past several years, seeing it grow from nothing into an award-winning reporting powerhouse. She has selected the best people and committed her team to smart projects, such as Power Breakfast. It would be a remarkable feat at any time, but it is even more so now when so many other news organizations are in trouble.

In these times, we desperately need to connect citizen journalists with professional journalists, and local issues with national policy. Melinda Wittstock, the brilliant creator of Capitol News Connection and Ask Your Lawmaker, is working every day to address these needs. It's an honor and a pleasure to work with her.

KUT jumped on the Capitol News Connection from the get go. Melinda sold us on the concept and then, very happily, delivered on her promises. It's been getting better and better thanks to Melinda's hard work and creative approach to localized reporting from the nation's capitol.