Melanie’s mantra is “Grow, baby, grow!” That’s exactly what she’s done for over 25 years as Torani’s first outside CEO. Torani, the fiercely independent flavor maker and B-Corp, has averaged double-digit, year-over-year growth in that time, flavoring cafés and kitchens around the world.

Unconventional in approach, Melanie and the Torani team think of the company as a 94-year-old start-up. They’re especially passionate about Torani’s purpose of “Flavor for All, Opportunity for All.” It’s a palpable part of the culture, with a focus on building opportunity -learning, development, growth – for their internal team, customers, and within the community.

Melanie earned a BA in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She happily serves on the Boards of Torani, social impact company Traditional Medicinals, and SHE-CAN (Supporting Her Education – Changes A Nation), mentoring and supporting young women from Rwanda, Cambodia and Liberia.
Melanie resides in her home town of San Francisco, recently rejoined by her daughter, Sammy, who has just begun teaching elementary school. Her current favorite flavor is Balsamic Fig.