Conversations with Melissa Randall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Randall

Hi Melissa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I think I thought I started in my 50″s but I realized my entire journey prior to my 50″s was the way to it. In my late 40’s I started working out. I found when I got my Body moving my mind changed.

Fast forward to now I have 2 retail stores and soon will be opening an event space in addition to a corporate medical job I still work in. I have spent many hours learning and leaning into Personal growth and Leadership development.

I learned so much about myself and what I value as a person by getting real with who I am and what I am responsible for. The answer came quickly. I am responsible for my happiness.

I was a very young mother at the age of 18. I had no clue what I was doing and was lost and constantly struggling financially and emotionally.

I made a lot of bad decisions. Let people down and was afraid of what other people thought. I was a good person, but I was just confused most of the time and I let the ideas of other people and society tell me what I should be doing as a women, parent, wife, daughter and friend.

I used to wish there was a table women could sit around and get real with themselves and others. A table where we could ask the hard questions or shoot even the easy ones like how long you boil and egg. (so I don’t have to call my mom every Easter to ask her)

Fast Foward through all the years of struggle and learning, I discovered that I can be a young unwed mother, I can file for bankruptcy, I can have failed marriages and relationships and ALSO, Put in the work to be the best version of me, I can start my own business, I can find the love of my life, I can be a light to others and I can create my own tables for people to come to.

That is how the Studio Umbrella Started… I wanted to be a Hope Dealer.

Not just the put it out there sunshine and rainbow type of Hope Dealer but the not afraid to get dirty and put in the work, have the difficult conversations and address the issues and not be afraid to talk about it Hope Dealer.

Because of that, I started Studio Hope- Personal Growth and Leadership Organization
Studio Marketplace- Vendor Boutique in Downtown Charlotte
The Corner Market and Pantry Downtown Charlotte
Studio Eats and Event Space Downtown Charlotte.

These businesses are all under 5 years old and they are beautiful and hard.

Each location has a special purpose, and my goal is to make an impact.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No Smooth road here.. The Devil is in the details

Time, Money, Commitment, Finding the right people to align with. It all requires work and effort.

While you are leaning into discovering who you are, lots of emotions are uncovered and it can be hard to work through if you do not have the right mindset and tools.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I own both the retail locations and the Event space, and I also do contract work for a Medical Group that provides ancillary services in Michigan. I have been with this company in some capacity for over 11 years. Their Mission is to provide Age-appropriate care to Seniors in Nursing Homes and Respite Care Facilities.

I have always been a person that enjoys people, I am a servant leader, and I want people to believe in themselves. I want to spread hope and add value and continue to work on being the best version of myself in each stage of my life. I like to think of myself as that Hope Dealer.

I have dedicated a lot of my work to women. Primarily because I often wondered while I was out in the world figuring out who I was, were there other women who were lost too. Were there other women who needed help, guidance or support but just were not sure where to get it.

When you get to a place in life where you have worked through the tough stuff, the losses and the deep in the weeds work… I found that I was full of Hope, and Wonder, but also believed if I can do ” this” what else can I do… and the answer is really anything I “want” to do if it lines up with my why.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I was fortunate enough to work for a company that brought in Coaching and Leadership Development at one of my Jobs. I have a couple mentors and coaches I work with still.

You can of course reach out to me at [email protected] if you want to work with me directly or I can help connect you with my resources as well.

Other platforms to find a Mentor might be:
Monthly Women’s Groups
Networking and Collaboration Events
Industry specific associations
Online Coaching platforms
Mastermind groups
Books and Online Courses