We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Shillingford a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission behind Make Ideas Work is simple but powerful:
To help mission-driven people and organizations work smarter, not harder so that they can reclaim their time, and thrive—so they can do more of what matters, with more ease and less burnout.

This mission is deeply personal to me because it comes from my own lived experience.

Before launching Make Ideas Work, I held roles where I managed large programs, supported powerful movements, and gave my all to work I believed in. I was surrounded by people who were passionate and committed to making change. But over time, I started noticing a painful pattern. The people doing the most meaningful work were often overwhelmed, overextended, and under-supported. And I was right there with them.

I was constantly juggling high-stakes projects, working long hours, and still feeling like I was falling behind. I saw brilliant colleagues burning out or walking away from roles they once loved—not because they lacked passion or ability, but because the way we were working simply wasn’t sustainable.

That’s when I realized something important. Having a powerful mission or bold ideas isn’t enough. You need systems, support, and strategy to bring those ideas to life in a sustainable way.

That’s why I created Make Ideas Work. It’s a space where leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations can get the clarity and tools they need to work with more intention, more ease, and less stress. Whether I’m partnering with someone to streamline their workflow or supporting a team in working better together, I love seeing people step into their purpose without sacrificing their well-being.

This work means so much to me because I know what it’s like to be stuck in survival mode. And I want folks—especially those from marginalized communities—to know that you don’t have to choose between your mission and your peace. You deserve both.

That’s the heart of Make Ideas Work.

Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Melissa Shillingford, founder of Make Ideas Work. I support nonprofit changemakers who are doing powerful, community-centered work but often find themselves overwhelmed, overextended, and unsure how to manage it all without burning out.

I come from the nonprofit world myself. For over a decade, I led programs and managed initiatives focused on racial equity, justice, and leadership development. I loved the mission-driven work, but behind the scenes, I was struggling. I was overworking constantly, and it began to take a serious toll on my mental and physical health. I experienced anxiety and panic attacks, lost sleep, developed unhealthy habits, and found myself disconnected from my family. Even when I was home, my mind was still on work. It wasn’t sustainable, and I knew something had to change.

That turning point is what inspired me to create Make Ideas Work. I wanted to help people like me—people doing important, heart-led work—find a better way to manage their time, their projects, and their energy. Now, I work alongside nonprofit leaders and teams to bring more clarity, structure, and ease to their daily operations. Whether it’s supporting project management, team communication, or strategic planning, I help clients move from chaos to confidence.

What makes my approach different is that I show up as a journey partner, not just a consultant. I bring my lived experience to the table and walk with my clients through the process, offering not just strategies but also empathy and real, actionable tools. I’m also committed to making resources accessible, so I share free and affordable tools that people can use right away to begin shifting how they work.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience has been such a huge part of my journey, especially when I decided to take the leap of faith and pursue Make Ideas Work full time. Honestly, it was scary AF.

We had just moved, my kids were still very young, and I only had enough savings to cover about three months of expenses. On top of that, I made the bold (and slightly naive) decision to homeschool my 3-year-old while trying to launch the business. I thought I could do it all—be a present mom, a preschool teacher, and a new business owner at the same time.

Whew. I quickly realized that while I had many gifts, preschool teaching was not one of them. My days were chaotic, I wasn’t getting any leads, and I barely had time to focus on building anything meaningful in the business. I was frustrated, exhausted, and starting to doubt if I had made the right decision.

That’s when resilience kicked in. I knew I had to make a shift if I really wanted to give Make Ideas Work a chance to grow. I enrolled my daughter in part-time preschool so she could get the support she deserved, and so I could have focused work time. With those few hours, I started reconnecting with people I had worked with in the past. I didn’t pitch them right away. I simply shared what I was building, asked for referrals, and offered my support if they needed it.

That was the spark. Those early conversations led to my first few clients. The momentum started to build, and slowly but surely, I began to see what was possible.

That season taught me that resilience doesn’t always mean pushing through no matter what. Sometimes it means being honest with yourself, pivoting when things aren’t working, and finding creative ways to stay in the game. I’m proud of how I showed up for myself and my family during that time, even when things felt uncertain.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: the path might not always be smooth, but you don’t need to have it all figured out to take the next right step. Resilience can look like reworking the plan, asking for help, and trusting that the seeds you’re planting will grow.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think what helped me build my reputation within the nonprofit space is that I’ve been on the other side. Before launching Make Ideas Work, one of my responsibilities in previous roles was to vet and hire consultants. I remember how frustrating it could be—working with consultants often felt like pulling teeth. I was constantly chasing them for information. Communication was unclear, deadlines were missed, and at times, managing the consultant felt like more work on top of everything else I had going on. That experience stuck with me, and I made a commitment to do things differently.

One of the things that really helped build my reputation is being easy and joyful to work with. I take a lot of pride in how I show up for my clients—not just in the deliverables, but in the overall experience of working together. For example, I always respond to emails within 24 to 48 hours. After every meeting, I send a follow-up email that outlines clear next action steps, so everyone is aligned on expectations. I send agendas ahead of time so folks know what to expect, and if I’m responsible for a document or deliverable, I send it before the deadline. If something comes up that might delay it, I communicate that as early and transparently as possible.

To me, this partnership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being accountable, respectful of people’s time, and always aiming to be a source of support, not stress. I want my clients to feel like they’re in good hands and that I’m someone who lightens their load, not adds to it. That mindset and consistency are what I believe have earned me trust and led to repeat clients and referrals.

When people feel taken care of, they remember it. That’s something I strive to embody in every interaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://make-ideas- work.kit.com/worksmarter
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissashillingford/