Heidi Melin ─ transformational and groundbreaking marketing leader who leads the way with vision to drive success...
December 1, 2020 • 3 Minute Read
Updated October 2022
Heidi Melin
Senior Operating Advisor
Hellman & Friedman
(Previously — Chief Marketing Officer
Workfront)
If you are looking for a groundbreaking marketing leader who leads the way with vision that is powerful, transformative, and successful across a range of IT products, cloud applications and solutions, look no further! We know the perfect person─Heidi Melin.
Heidi is the Chief Marketing Officer at Workfront. Her digital marketing prowess is second to none and has resulted in four of her former companies being acquired for big bucks—PeopleSoft, Hyperion, Taleo and Eloqua! Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Heidi Melin!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
Most of my business colleagues don’t know that my first “real job” out of college was working as a Field Consultant for a national women’s fraternity.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
100K.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
Sea Urchin at Bodega 1900, a tapas bar in Barcelona, Spain.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
Transitioning from working at an Advertising Agency focused on technology clients to being a leader inside a software company.
Managing through a hostile takeover (Oracle-PeopleSoft) for 19 long months, while playing a leadership role in integrating a $1B acquisition (JD Edwards).
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
I have been fortunate enough to have a number of key mentors/influencers over the years. All of them have demonstrated the importance of authenticity and integrity as a leader. Be yourself, be human.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Nurture your network.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I participate with a number of organizations, including Women In Revenue, to formally serve as a resource for those early in their careers. But I also informally mentor and support many twenty-somethings.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
Working on category creation at Workfront has been invigorating, especially partnering with our customers that are leading how the future of work is evolving.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
Never before has business agility been more important than in 2020. This is an area that I continually focus on.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
As a Marketing leader, 2020 has brought many challenges, including adapting to the “new normal” and adjusting investments to provide the most significant impact during an uncertain time.
