Her Story
About Melissa
Melissa Orduna has spent 18 years in management, operations, and consulting. As a Navy veteran who completed four years of active duty and four years inactive, she is building a consulting business focused on creating operational systems that allow fast-growing companies to scale successfully rather than merely survive. A first-generation Latina, Orduna graduated from Pepperdine in 2025 after navigating educational and professional bureaucracies largely independently. She is currently preparing to attend law school. Orduna attributes her success to her work ethic, constant curiosity, and desire to leave the world better than she found it. She serves as Los Angeles County Council Vice Commander for Women Veterans with the American Legion and is developing programs to support women veterans in male-dominated fields. She values courage, integrity, and honesty above all.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success I attribute to my work ethic, my constant curiosity of wanting to know more, wanting to do more. At the end of the day I just want to leave behind this world a little bit better than how I received it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Start scared, start tired, start before you feel ready because waiting for uncertainty is how good ideas quietly die.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid. Use your voice. Don't be afraid to speak up. Every time that you think you're wrong, maybe you are, it's a learning lesson, and take those as lessons not as someone trying to bring you down, and then try again.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Having that stigma that oh she's a woman she don't know. I work primarily with contractors and I had to learn while I was in school and building a business a whole new language. Never ending never stopping the learning process is very important.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Courage, integrity, and honesty.
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