Profile
Melissa leads the Master of Science in Strategic Design for Global Leadership Degree at Parsons School of Design. This degree, designed for professionals, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who have already forged a path in their professional lives, is 18-months in length and includes experience in three international intensives in Paris, New York and Shanghai.
Melissa Rancourt is a long-time educator for leaders, companies and governmental institutions on the subject of innovation, creativity, disruption and transformation. Born in Italy to parents of Greek & French heritage – raised in 10 states in the USA – and now a citizen and resident of Brussels for the past 18 years, she brings this mix of international cultures to her approach to business and societal impact.
For more than twenty-five years, Melissa Rancourt has worked to help organisations and individuals globally to develop their creativity and skills to share their work, expand their reach, and motivate their teams. Her background is varied – an Industrial Engineer starting in manufacturing and healthcare to University Faculty teaching several technical and business subjects to an Entrepreneur who loves to create businesses. Melissa uses all these professional backgrounds and experiences to bring Strategic Design to the forefront in companies and to show how the design process and tools can be used to infuse the culture with creativity to transform new ways, products and services for the future.
She addresses professional audiences at international conferences on business and societal subjects. She was recently a speaker at Cannes International Festival of Creativity in France and The NextWeb in Amsterdam on the subject of Design Thinking. She is a two-time TEDx speaker for Brussels and Luxembourg, a United Nations speaker on Human Rights, a Parliament speaker on equality, a Moderator for the preparations of the European Election and presents at events of all sizes in Europe, the Americas and Asia. She has appeared on the US TV show Living Abroad, Bloomberg, Euronews and several other media.
ARTICLE: Parsons Paris Welcomes Seasoned Academic Director to Global Executive Program
Degrees Held
MBA in Entrepreneurship, Babson College
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology
Professional Affiliation
Institute of Industrial Engineers
National Society of Professional Engineers
Society of Women Engineers
Recent Publications
Author:
“Cinema and neuromarketing: how to make your film irresistible (and profitable)”, co-author with Patrick Georges, Neurosurgeon.
“Choosing an Automated Dispensing Machine”, co-author Dr. Bruce Wong, American Journal of Health Systems Pharmacy: Volume 56. Translated in French (Canada).
“Enhancing Pharmacy Clinical Services Through the Use of an Automated Drug Dispensing System”, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts: Vol 34.
Neuromarketing: Sell to the Brain, book in process with author & Professor Patrick M. Georges.
“Optical Disk Technology in a Medical Environment”, The Boston Computer Society Journal.
“Preparing for Year 2000 – STAT”, Health Management Technology, (cover story/photo on cover magazine).
Surface Mount Technology Quality Standards book, 200 pages. Digital Equipment Corporation.
“Waiting for Toast”, short story, Solas Travelers Tales Award – Gold Prize.
Published Works where I am mentioned:
Subject of book (Chapter 5, Echo Sets Fires, pages 178-190), Echo Designs her Way out of a Paper Bag, written by Jack Roberts.
Forward for Sustainable Growth and Profits, book written by Magnus Penker.
Subject of book (Chapter 6, The New Domain of Leadership, pages 110-112), Conscious Leadership in Action, written by Floyd Carlson.
Podcast, “What is Service Design”, www.whyservicedesignthinking.com, created by Marina Terteryan.
The Economist, “Why Design Thinking is on the Lips of so many Business Leaders”.
Climate Action Superheroes empower children to protect the planet | | UN News
Recent Press:
The Problem Solvers, Babson College: The Problem Solvers · Babson Magazine
EN reveals the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise List: entrepreneurs, innovators and sector leaders - Euclid Network, Award Recognition, EN reveals the Top 100 Women in Social Enterprise List: entrepreneurs, innovators and sector leaders - Euclid Network
CDK Global Strengthens Commitment to Philanthropic Partnerships to Support Inclusive and Equitable, Quality Education and Lifelong Learning | Business Wire, Quoted, CDK Global Strengthens Commitment to Philanthropic Partnerships to Support Inclusive and Equitable, Quality Education and Lifelong Learning | Business Wire
‘Alles is mogelijk’; g4g Day moet meisjes bewegen exacte vakken te kiezen (bbvms.com), TV Interview, ‘Alles is mogelijk’; g4g Day moet meisjes bewegen exacte vakken te kiezen (bbvms.com)
Global initiative focused on empowering women in STEM hosts first Middle East event in Dubai | Art & Culture | ITP.net, Quoted, Global initiative focused on empowering women in STEM hosts first Middle East event in Dubai - ITP.net
Greenlight for Girls: Finding the STEM Leaders of the Future - Linux.com, Greenlight for Girls: Finding the STEM Leaders of the Future - Linux.com
Performances and Appearances
Speaking Appearances for The New School:
Stage Presenter, Panel presenter, Moderator forCannes International Festival of Creativity
Podcast Moderator/Interviewer for Asking Out Loud with The New School and Cannes International Festival of Creativity
Stage Presenter, Designer/Presenter for interactive workshop at The Next Web in Amsterdam
Designer/Presenter on “The 7 Ways You Can Use Design Thinking to Drive Innovative Marketing Now” for the American Marketing Association
Presenter on “Inspiring Leaders with Strategic Design Thinking” at Turner Symposium, NYC
Presenter on “Design for the Future” at the London Design Museum.
Keynote Speaker on “Disrupt your Innovation Process” for The Conference Board in NYC.
Speaker, panel presenter, moderator at The New School Centennial events.
Podcast Interview speaker on "Tell me it is impossible and I do it" for Innovation360.com, Sweden.
Moderator for New School Alumni Presents: Creative Women in Leadership webinar.
Moderator for Design Innovation in Seoul: A Learning Opportunity for Global Executives webinar.
Research Interests
experiential learning, experiential design, strategic design, industrial engineering, STEM learning, creative pedagogies, executive learners
Awards And Honors
Named one of Top 100 Women in Social Enterprises in the EU, 2021
Award winner for Luxury Travel Guide, Haute Grandeur Global Spa, World Luxury Spa
Best Graduate Professor for Academic Years 2014 to 2016, Middlesex University, UBI Brussels Campus
Annual Judge for European Commission Horizon 2020 Business Funding, World Spa & Wellness Award, Babson's Entrepreneurship Award (10+ years)
Awarded World Woman Leadership Achievement Award, Mumbai
Gold Award Winner for Solas Best Travel Writing, Travel & Food Category
Commencement Speaker, Boston University, International Brussels Campus