Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Ballate.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am the daughter of a civil engineer and a hairdresser who has always been passionate about making things both work and be more beautiful.
I started working at age 14. I’ve always loved to earn my keep so I can take care of myself and those I love.
At 18, while working as a teller, I decided I could do better. I heard the “internet” was abuzz with opportunities and so naively I tried calling Microsoft to see how I could get trained. That led me to enroll in a program to become a certified webmaster, which I completed while working and going to college full-time.
At 19, I applied and successfully got my first professional job at a Chicago firm called Classified Ventures (they own and operate cars.com)… I worked there for three and a half years while finishing my Masters’. After returning from a trip to Barcelona, I realized I wanted to launch my own business… not driven by money or autonomy but by the desire to be accountable for my future and by my realization that people in the world can either be obsessed with aesthetics and or with information… I wanted to help them both benefit from the other… because only when both come together can ideas be realized and shared.
I drained my 401K and in 2003, a day before my 23 birthday, launched Blue Daring. I had already started networking and doing some consulting during lunch hours and by that time had built some business.
When I first started the company, our services were very much a reflection of my background… marketing and technology. Over time, I realized that both of those are easily commoditized… what never is is what serves as their foundation… branding (figuring out who you are in this world) and strategy (deciding how you’re going to position yourself in it).
15 years later, my company has had the honor of helping so many of our city’s anchor institutions and agencies like the City of Chicago, CPS, Cook County, Chicago & Illinois Departments of Transportation, and University of Chicago communicate, but also companies like Toyota (the world’s largest auto manufacturer) and LION (the world’s largest protective apparel manufacturer)… helping them strategically build/brand their businesses in today’s increasingly dynamic and more connected world. Everything we do is with a focus on purpose, beautifully designed, with the innate diversity of humanity in mind and in the spirit of partnership.
While I was many many many times the only woman, “kid” or Cuban in the room, what’s important to me is being an empathetic human being that takes care of others and brings value to every situation. I encourage the (mostly) women that work for me to do the same. Those values are the foundation of an amazing company culture that I am proud to have sparked that anyone we have touched can attest to.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It wasn’t always a smooth road but when you do what you enjoy, everything is surmountable.
My advice for other women is two things:
Do what makes you happy.
When you love and believe in what you do, people sense it and the universe aligns to make things happen.
Focus on being a good human being.
Woman or man, we are all human beings… that need love, attention, and fulfillment. Don’t spend your energy focusing on your own sex or that of others in the room, just focus on being real and approaching every individual with respect and curiosity. Everyone has something to teach you.
What should we know about Blue Daring? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My team.
My clients.
My culture.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
Yeah. I grew up with a very loving, dedicated and creative (single) mother. Even though we did not have much at all, I never felt like I lacked anything in life (because I had love and we had fun together). She also always prioritized my happiness above all things, which ultimately made me feel good about pursuing my business.
Also, when I was a kid, I told my mother that I wanted to be a doctor… she said don’t waste your life in school. I told my father I wanted to be an accountant and he said they would be obsolete by the time I got out of college. While I was confused for a few years, 🙂 it ultimately led me to realize that I want to touch a little bit of everything in life… (and I can still apply my passion for caring for people and figuring things out in the process).
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.bluedaring.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/bluedaring
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
