Melissa Pepper is a strategic executive and trusted advisor who helps CEOs, executive teams, and boards navigate growth, innovation, organizational transformation, and succession. With executive leadership experience spanning corporate strategy, innovation, business development, marketing, communications, people operations, and technology, she brings an enterprise-wide perspective to solving complex business challenges.
Throughout her career, Melissa has partnered with closely held and family-owned businesses to align long-term vision with disciplined execution. She is recognized for helping organizations build sustainable growth strategies, strengthen leadership teams, improve organizational performance, and prepare for the next chapter of their evolution.
Former Chief Strategy Officer
Woman of Influence
Board Director
AI & Innovation Implementer
Most recently, Melissa served as Chief Strategy Officer at Russell, where she led enterprise strategy during a period of significant growth, helping the organization expand from approximately $200 million to nearly $700 million in annual revenue. She oversaw strategic planning, marketing, business development, innovation, and corporate strategy while leading enterprise initiatives in artificial intelligence, talent strategy, mergers and acquisitions, leadership development, and succession planning. Her work consistently focused on translating ambitious vision into measurable business results.
Melissa is also the founder of Lead(h)er, a nonprofit organization committed to developing and connecting women leaders. Since its founding, the organization has served more than 1,400 women through mentorship, professional development, and leadership programming.
A respected community leader, Melissa serves on the MercyOne Genesis Board of Directors, is Vice Chair of The Cultural Trust, and serves on the President’s Advisory Council at Augustana College. Her leadership has been recognized with the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal Women of Influence Award and selection to the Iowa 500, recognizing the state’s most influential business leaders.
Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa.
Today, Melissa advises organizations at pivotal moments—helping CEOs and boards clarify strategy, accelerate execution, develop leaders, embrace innovation, and build organizations positioned to thrive for generations.
Media & Content
Forbes Business Council: Mission Matters: Three Actions to Uncover Your Company’s Why
Quad Cities Regional Business Journal: Lifting Up Others, Focusing on What’s Next