Name: Melanie Owen
Company or Organization: Lazy Ballerina Winery est. 2015
What is your job or role there? Co-Owner & Co-Founder
Where do you live? Southwest Michigan
How do you think that Bold Women of Business demonstrate being bold?
Leading by example and being a strong supporter of the community.
Bold women are often defined by a number of descriptors. What top three would say most exemplify your personality?
Courageous
Bright
Strong
Please provide an example of when you feel you were at your very best in taking action on the job or in your role.
Creating and delivering training to my staff. Watching them succeed based on that training and then praising them for their success. Since we are a team their success is also my success.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened on your road to success?
No one story comes to mind. I have a saying I use often “Laugh or Cry”. Creating and building a business from scratch has been a lot of hardworking. Unexpected things like a pandemic shut down are difficult. We have overcome many challenges and continued to grow over the last 10 years. Most days we choose laugh!
Who most inspires your personal drive for success every day?
My Grandma Nita. She worked, raised a family, worked on the family farm, was the first woman on the Coloma School Board. She did it all and had fun doing it. She welcomed everyone and there was always enough for anyone to join for dinner. The wine Nita’s Niagara at Lazy Ballerina Winery is named in her honor.
What is your best advice to women in Southwest Michigan looking to succeed, as you have, in business?
Surround yourself with a tribe that motivates you and helps you succeed. Don’t be afraid to continue learning and ask for help.
What does your selection to the ranks of the Bold Women of Business from Moody on the Market mean to you?
It is an honor to be recognized and be part of this phenomenal group of women both past and present.
