Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as “SmallBizLady” is a seasoned entrepreneur who is a professional speaker and small business coach. Her areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Melinda is a well-known expert in achieving bottom line results and has helped more than 2500 entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses.  Her first book, Become Your Own Boss in  12 Months was published by Adams Media in February 2010.  Melinda has been featured on NBC Nightly News and in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and Black Enterprise.

Melinda hosts #Smallbizchat, a weekly talk show on Twitter. #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business.

She is also the founder and CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, a full service multimedia production firm. Melinda has created productions for clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, IKEA, Comcast, and Radio-One. She started the business after a career in television as a producer with ABC and NBC.
Melinda has been adjunct professor at Delaware State University, and a guest lecturer at numerous colleges and universities including The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Rosemont College and The Art Institute of Philadelphia.

She has also performed keynote addresses, panel presentations, and workshops at several conferences including: Center for Women’s Business Research, U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Entrepreneurship in the 21st century, Small Business Administration, WBENC Regional Conference, Women Leadership Institute at GlaxoSmithKline, Innovation Philadelphia, NAWBO Marketing Success Conference, Delaware River Port Authority Small Business Series, New Jersey Transit Small Business Development Series, National Urban League Conference, Midlantic Business Alliance Women’s Business Conference, IKEA, Philadelphia Commercial Development Corp., National Minority Supplier Development Council, African-American Female Entrepreneurs Alliance

Melinda was named one of the Top 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania, one of Top 30 Leaders of the Future by Ebony magazine and the National Association of Women Business Owners gave her the Woman of Distinction Award.  She is a wife and mother who lives in Philadelphia, PA.