We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Unfortunately, we live in a time where job security isn’t as powerful as it was 20 years ago. I took the advice from my parents and other family members to secure degrees and find a job that had great benefits. I did it and landed in Corporate America. I was not satisfied. My goal in life, as cliche as it sounds, is to help people, and I thought that that’s what I was doing when I dedicated my career to Human Resources. After a few years, I realized that I was helping the companies I worked for more than the employees themselves. I hated having to tell an employee that they weren’t going to get a paycheck this week because of a “system error”. I hated employees reporting instances of hate and nothing become of it. I needed more for my life.

I already had a hobby blogging about mental wellness and relationships, and I saw how it deeply impacted the people that I came across. People started sending me emails, asking if I was taking any clients. That’s when I figured that I could do what I love and make a decent living doing it. Being in this position allows me to truly give people the help that they’re looking for.


Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My bluntness and transparency sets me apart from others. Relationships are always a touchy subject for individuals because of vices like social media, where everyone pretends to be perfect. I’m not afraid to talk about my past and some of the unwise choices that I made in relationships. I even wrote about it in my first book, From Broken Pieces to Master Peace. I’m excited and proud about the strides that I’ve made to transform from just writing blog posts, to actually talking people through their relationship goals. It was difficult, because the first thing nay-sayers spew is, “why would I tell you about my relationship problems when I can just see a therapist?” That question will soon be redundant because I’ve taken this love of healthy relationships so seriously that I’m now in the process of getting my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. The way I see it, people will always have something to say. You can never make everyone happy, but what matters most to me is the lives of the people that I do touch in a positive way. As long as one person gets it, I’ve done my part.

The one thing that I want people to know about the brand that I’m building is that “Ur Relationship Starts With U”. I will always push introspection because a relationship cannot function if you’re not doing your part.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This journey has allowed me to study the minds of some great relationship experts, some of whom have dedicated their lives to studying relationships. One of the first books I read was the 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. It has helped me to not only get my marriage together, but it has given me the clarity I need to be a straight shooter with my clients. That book has changed my life and I will continue to recommend it as a relationship-saving tool.

Website: www.melissatwalker.com

Instagram: @melissatwalker_

Twitter: @melissatwalker_

Image Credits
The 2 photos with the gentleman (my husband) – RTW Photography All the other photos – Tony Lake Photography (His story is just as inspiring and could be potentially a good fit for your magazine).

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.