Melissa Rancourt

Melissa Rancourt is the Academic Director of Parsons' Global Executive Masters in Strategic Design and Management at The New School. An entrepreneur, philanthropist and tireless innovator, Melissa has taught a wide range of courses in executive education programs on subjects including global business strategies, entrepreneurship, communication, e-commerce, international marketing and branding, and data-driven decision making to name a few. She earned her B.S. in industrial engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College. Melissa has also addressed professional audiences on various subjects as a two-time TEDx presenter, United Nations speaker on human rights, and various other business subjects at events in Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East.

As an ENGINEER Helps companies in any industry & region to grow and design their business, products & services internationally by driving efficiency and leveraging creativity in their business to reach successful results in industries from manufacturing to healthcare to retail to associations to SMEs.

As an EDUCATOR Taught numerous business & technical courses as a university professor for ten+ years & is the Academic Director of the Global Executive Master Degree in Strategic Design & Management at Parsons leading a new program in Paris, NYC & Shanghai.

Teaches corporate, executive & governmental audiences on design thinking, sustainable business, communication, negotiation, ecommerce, public speaking, project mgmt & strategy.

As an ENTREPRENEUR Founded greenlight for girls to address the issue of declining or stagnant % of women in several STEM fields. In just a few years, it has reached more than 15,000 students with its hands-on fun-filled science events focused on inspiring the future generation. With a team of more than 3,500 volunteers worldwide, the organisation has conducted more than 120 events on 6 continents.

An owner of a Brussels-based luxury wellness centre, Serendip Spa & Yoga, and is driving its growth by 25% each year to prepare for its international expansion - and has already expanded by adding a wellbeing studio, international retreat partnerships and is now a registered Yoga Teacher Training school.

As a PUBLIC SPEAKER Two-time TEDx speaker for Brussels & Luxembourg, a UN speaker on Human Rights, Parliament speaker on equality and presented at events of all sizes in Europe, US, Brazil, India & UAE - & appeared on US TV show Living Abroad, Bloomberg, Euronews and several other media.

Dual citizen of both Belgium and the US, Italian-born and of Greek and French heritage.