Melissa delights in working with organisations that want to make an impact at scale. She loves to work with teams facing uncertain futures in complex times. As a futurist she knows that there “are no future facts” and believes we should design our organisations to thrive under multiple scenarios. As a keen strategist, Melissa likes to help organisation determine their “theory of change” or “theory of how to win” and to design experiments that advance the cause. Melissa has a particular interest in working with Boards of Directors and Governors.

Melissa Clark Reynolds ONZM, ChFInstD became a Futurist and Strategist after 30 years experience as a technology entrepreneur and CEO of a number of Technology companies. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of Wētā Workshop, Atkins Ranch, Alpine Energy Network, and Daffodil Enterprises Ltd, and has extensive experience as Chair and Director of founder driven, family and community owned enterprises as well as a member of numerous government advisory panels. Melissa designed and leads courses in Strategy, Disruption and Digital Innovation for the NZ Institute of Directors. She has scaled businesses, led investment rounds, advised high growth and (previously) stalled companies. Even more usefully, she has been through multiple financial cycles and has the scar tissue to prove it.

Melissa went to University young and completed a BA(Hons) in Anthropology at Victoria University in NZ, and later a MCRP (focus in Environmental Health) from Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. She has taken courses in Entrepreneurship and Strategy at MIT and Stanford University, as well as HBX. She trained as a Foresight Practitioner with The Institute for the Future in Palo Alto. She studied with Futurist Sohail Inayatullah in his approach to causal layered analysis and corporate metaphor, as well as completing the School of International Futures (SOIF) Summer School.

Melissa doesn’t remember learning to swim and, coming from an island nation, she loves being, in on and near the water. A beekeeper, and gardener, Melissa likes to feed family, friends and spend time with her hands in the dirt. She has 2 children and 2 grandchildren and lives in NZ with her partner Mike. This year she plans to swim in the ocean right through the winter, and has conquered her fear of swimming in the dark.