Melissa Ripperger
Executive Business Partner
Tilley Distribution
Melissa Ripperger shares her unique path into the distribution industry, demonstrating how non-traditional backgrounds need not be a hindrance to career success. From leveraging her arts background in day-to-day interactions to overcoming career uncertainty and personal hardship, Melissa outlines how a commitment to striving for excellence, resilience, and continuous learning can propel both personal and professional growth.
Translating Theater and Family Values to Executive Support: Melissa’s path to becoming an Executive Business Partner at Tilley was shaped by strong foundational values and an unconventional background. Raised by parents who modeled a deep commitment to hard work and striving for excellence, Melissa learned to constantly evaluate and deliver her best work. Although she studied theater and initially felt self-conscious about lacking a technical or chemical background, her performance training proved invaluable. Theater taught her to collaborate with cross-functional teams, handle high-pressure deadlines, and navigate public speaking without fear. It also honed her executive presence; teaching her the value of observation, listening, maintaining composure in boardrooms, and extending grace to leadership.
Embracing Discomfort and Strategic Career Transitions: Taking bold steps outside her comfort zone has been a constant theme in Melissa's professional trajectory. When a comfortable and well-loved role with a previous employer no longer offered a challenge, she made the difficult decision to leave to ensure continuous career growth. Moving into a purchasing role at a new company required her to learn complex global supply chains, pricing, and import markets on the job. Despite initial fear and self-doubt when facing new environments, Melissa learned to lean into her faith, network, and personal resilience. Each step into the unknown built her confidence, reinforcing her belief that discomfort is simply a natural part of any growth phase.
Finding Community and Purpose in Women in Chemicals: Seeking to broaden her knowledge of the industry, Melissa joined Women in Chemicals, starting with their book club. Being open and vulnerable about her non-technical background allowed her to quickly connect with other women facing similar career dynamics. Driven by a passion for volunteerism and lifelong learning, she raised her hand to become the organization's Marketing Coordinator. Using her professional skills to give back provided a double benefit: it allowed her to support a mission she believed in while surrounding herself with inspiring women and stepping out of her comfort zone.
Overcoming Hardship and Cultivating Empathy: Beyond her professional life, Melissa shared her journey of rebuilding after a period of intense personal loss and heartbreak. Facing the daunting task of starting over from scratch, she discovered an inner strength and resilience she previously did not know she possessed. Rebuilding required time, patience, and leaning on a supportive community during moments of isolation. Having emerged stronger on the other side of adversity, Melissa now uses her story to offer hope, empathy, and encouragement to others navigating their own difficult transitions.
Advice to the Women in Chemicals Community: Melissa urges community members to remain lifelong learners by pursuing podcasts, webinars, and mentorship opportunities from colleagues they admire. She emphasized the importance of finding hobbies that "fill your cup" and light a spark outside of work. Above all, she advised the community not to be afraid of change, as continuous learning is the ultimate key to adapting, growing, and thriving.