Melinda Emerson

Small Business Expert, Bestselling Author, Founder & President, Quintessence Group

About This Expert

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She has been a thriving entrepreneur for nearly 20 years and is an internationally known keynote speaker and expert on small business development and social media marketing. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. A pioneer in social media marketing, she is the creator and host of #Smallbizchat, the longest running live chat on Twitter for small business owners. Forbes magazine named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter.

Melinda is a founder and president of Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small businesses. Notable clients include Visa, Sam’s Club, FedEx, American Express, ADP, Verizon Wireless, Pitney Bowes, Staples and The Hartford. She has lectured at numerous colleges and universities including; MIT, The University of Pennsylvania, Rosemont College, Chatham University, Point Park College, Temple University, Cheyney University, Delaware State, Howard University, and Morgan State University.

In addition to being a former columnist for The New York Times, and Entrepreneur, she is frequently quoted by other media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Fast Company, CNBC, MSNBC and Fox News. Forbes magazine named her one of Top 10 Tech and Business Experts for 2017. She is also a contributor to Inc., Essence and Black Enterprise. She is an expert on what it takes the start a successful small business, go-to-market strategy, and social media selling. She is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, 2nd Edition and the ebook How To Become a Social Media Ninja, and her latest book Fix Your Business. She is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech, and mother to her amazing 7th grader JoJo.