Her Story
About Melissa
Melissa Lorenzin is a licensed social worker in the state of Illinois with a background spanning business and social work, mainly in healthcare. With nearly 20 years of experience, she specializes in hospice, where she meets with families and patients to provide comfort and education during end-of-life transitions while also handling sales, marketing, and relationship-building with hospitals, doctors' offices, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Business from Northeastern Illinois and later pursued a master's in social work from the University of Chicago in Illinois after being inspired by the support her family received during her father's illness. Previously active in professional organizations including NASW and the Illinois and Indiana chapter of CMSA, she has been recognized in Who's Who both in high school and in recent years. Lorenzin attributes her success to her mother's emphasis on always striving to do more and attributes key career guidance to an oncologist who stressed focusing on the patient above all else. She values being truthful, empathetic, calm, and realistic in her interactions, and advises young women entering the field to persist through effort and setbacks.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
My mother was a tiger mom who always pushed me to do a little bit more and try a little bit harder.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
From an oncologist: It's not about the problem or the issue, it's about the patient. You're working with patients and you're still helping them, no matter what their needs are.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up. As long as you have effort and you put effort in everything, you could succeed in everything. It doesn't take wits, it just takes effort. You can't succeed without failing, and some things don't work out, and that's okay, you just keep going.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being truthful to yourself. Let go of control in certain situations. Show up every day and do what you can. Be empathetic, calm, and truthful - tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.
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