Event Details

In a joint event with the Zell Lurie Institute (ZLI) and the Ross Alumni Club of Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan, Growth strategy guru and UM alum, Melanie de Vries, will speak to aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone else interested in growing their business. The event will be held at the Paradise Street Eats and Biryani restaurant, which is co-owned by U-M alumni.

Ms. de Vries is a growth strategy guru with a history of successfully developing marketing and sales strategies that build and improve profitability. Her focus is on identifying plans and tactics for driving rapid growth and building new innovations that obtain and keep clients and expand market share. Melanie mixes her extensive knowledge in business strategy and entrepreneurship with effective processes to tailor solutions for each organization’s specific needs. She also brings her passion, enthusiasm and compassionate shoulder to cry on to every client meeting. 

Her recent experience includes serving as CEO and Co-Founder of PaymentScholar (an edtech start-up). She has worked in the entrepreneurial ecosystem as an independent consultant advising start-up organizations on strategic planning, market positioning, market analysis, brand development, and customer discovery. She has also served as the senior marketing officer for Deloitte & Touche/Deloitte Consulting, The Learning Care Group and ForeSee Results. In these roles, she oversaw the execution of business, marketing, and sales strategies to drive growth and increase market share. 

Her areas of expertise include Go-To-Market, New Product Launches and Commercialization Strategy and Tactics; Complex B2B Sales, Client and Channel Partner Management; Customer, Market and Competitive Analysis; Customer Satisfaction and Retention; and Investor Pitch Presentation Coaching

Ms. de Vries is a graduate of the University of Michigan.  She resides with her husband and two daughters in Ann Arbor, MI.