⚡The next evolution of Gated is here! ⚡

I'm an entrepreneur and full-stack marketing executive with a passion for products that make a difference in peoples' lives and a talent for creating clarity from chaos. I believe deeply in finding your focus and taking big swings.  That's why:

- I'm Cofounder of Wednesday Women: a movement that amplifies extraordinary women leaders *everyone* should know and be inspired by. ...  And an Exec Membership that supports those same amazing women.   
- I advise a select portfolio of businesses with my expertise in growth-stage marketing strategy, leadership, and execution.  I love ideating about new solutions and helping entrepreneurs find product-market fit.
- I've spent the last 5 years leading beloved startups:  Matcha (CEO) - a community-focused matching technology and Gated (CMO &amp; Founder) - $3M-raised SaaS startup in the email space. 
- I'm a passionate advocate for fast, frictionless user experiences. Over 14 years at Google, I worked with Fortune 500 Travel companies to build effective cross-channel marketing strategy and create amazing user experiences.  
- I'm a major advocate of remote work and the benefits it brings for mental health, families, and the earth. 

When I'm not working, you'll find me busy working on my most important, fun, and ongoing project - my family. I am an avid fan of the outdoors, reading, and travel.  Bonus conversation starters:  Travel , good books, Taskmaster, The Killers, Modern Stoicism, Mitch Hedberg, and F1.

Melissa Moody 🦕

I love a good surprise.  

And I was definitely surprised (and honored and thrilled) to see my name on a thread from Sprouts.ai that  features standout women across B2B SaaS.  

As someone who has never quite fit the mold, but always been "marketer-ish" by trade... It feels so lovely to be included in this talented bunch. 

I figured I should share a few of my simple, constant thoughts about marketing -  just to add a bit to this "wow, me?" post: 

1) Keep your customer as the center of all you do.  From the way you position a product to the sales process to the content you create... your customer is the key.  Stay focused, friends. 

2) Moments of delight will go far in an automated, "scaleable" world.  Don't forget that.  (And thanks for reminding me of that today, Jessica (.!)

3) Any GTM leader worth their salt has *very* close relationships with product and sales at the ground level.  Marketing needs to be the glue that binds, not its own silo. 

4) Your brand happens at every touchpoint.  In product, in passing, in active and passive searches. Every. Darn. Touchpoint.  Matters to your brand as a whole. 

....

And you know what my favorite part of this "list of ladies" was?  There are *new names* on this list that I don't know ... yet.  For a connector like me, that's always the cherry on top!  

I can't wait to follow them and you should too:

Maggie Hott, Shari Johnston, Tara Benyousky, Tiffani Bova, Abbie White, Madison Leonard ☀️ , Winnie Palmer, Liz MacAulay, Megan Bowen, Lindsay Tjepkema, Lilah Jones, Caryne Say, Lizz Harrell, Zoe F., Hannah Ajikawo, Jennifer Howard., Anne Pao, Lindsay Rios, Rachel Johnson

Melissa Moody

Startup Exec | Marketing Leader | Podcaster | Mom

Want to win some books by leaders you should know? 📚
I've got you covered.

To kick off the new year, Wednesday Women is giving away 10 share-worthy books over 10 days — all written by standout leaders who have been there, done the work, and are sharing the real stories behind what it takes to lead with impact.

These aren’t just business books.
They’re books about courage, reinvention, clarity, and growth.
The kind that shift how you think — and how you show up.

🎁 Every day we’re featuring a different book — from startup stories to executive playbooks to honest career advice — and you can win your own copy by simply commenting on the posts!  

--> Go follow Wednesday Women to see and comment on the daily giveaways (and meet the authors!)
--> It's day 6 of the giveaway... so you only have a few days left!

Whether you're leading a team, building a company, or figuring out your next move — these are voices worth learning from.

Sabina M. Pons Precious L. Williams RainmakingSpeaker Jen Spencer Ashley Faus Leslie Greenwood Leslie Venetz ✊Heidi Solomon-Orlick Brianna Doe Bridgett McGowen Stacey Copas Elizabeth Blass 🌻 Ejieme Eromosele

Things I missed when I went low-digital the last 2 weeks: 

✍ YOUR updates here on LinkedIn. I'm having such fun looking through my feed and seeing: job openings, job announcements, reflections on the new year, and more... Keep the candid, thoughtful, and fun posts coming, everyone.

🧠  My weekly Inner Circle check-ins with Stacey Copas and the crew.  This is just one of the ways I'm investing in my inner strength  in the year ahead.  (You should be following her work, if you're not!)

💜  My busy, thriving, Wednesday Women exec network, now on a new platform and the connections, gives/gets, and sharing wins are... energizing. Having peer support of this caliber is so critical to my success in the year ahead. 

📨 The email newsletters I actually DO read in my inbox...  such as thoughtful leadership insights from Marsden Kline and Dina Otero and startup tips from Alexander Shartsis and Nomiki 💜 Petrolla

... That's it.  
I did not miss: 

The news cycle. 
The trolls.
The wasted time. 
The fake "success" posts. 
The spammy emails and DMs. 

Welcome to 2026, friends. We make our own success and sparkles this year.

I move fast.
 (Like, forget-the-project-I-was-just-doing or leave-my-coffee-on-the-counter fast. My thoughtful husband will tell you... it's sometimes just... too fast. 😂)

I have ideas firing, meetings flowing, and a hundred to-dos in motion at any given moment. Which means… things get dropped. Sometimes important things. And I feel that stress that comes from that... mentally, emotionally, even physically.

But I felt a change in 2024 and I think it came from doing something I should have done a while ago:  starting to work with an Executive Assistant.

I am daily grateful for Samantha Archuleta, our EA at Wednesday Women, who takes my crazy and puts it in order. Who listens to my overwhelm and makes it all make sense. Who doesn't tell me to "stop doing so much", but rather to look at a timeline of what needs doing now vs. later. 

Sam doesn’t just manage logistics - she manages my marvelous chaos.
And that has been huge for my work and my peace of mind.

Having an incredible EA isn’t just a productivity hack—it’s a way to lead and live better.

If you're thinking about this - or just need to explore how transformational working with an EA can be: 
- Follow Base HQ... a partner and inspirational company that does this RIGHT. 
- Attend one of our upcoming webinars on the topic... let's get real and bust some myths that might be holding you back. 
- Grab time to chat with me... I'm happy to share what I've learned! 

And thank you, Sam. You’ve made this whirlwind life work and both Leslie Greenwood and I are so grateful.

One of the best perks of running a business?
You get to choose who you partner with.

And when you find the right people — shout it from the rooftops. 🔊
That’s why I’m so thrilled to make it official: Wednesday Women recently announced our newest partner #samsales Consulting#samsales Consulting - a company of the highest standards and big impact.  

Yes, they’re brilliant at what they do.
Yes, their sales training and LinkedIn branding work is best-in-class.
But what really matters to me? The people.

Samantha McKenna is someone I admire deeply — a founder, a mom, and a truly real human who shows up with generosity, humor, and heart. Getting to finally meet her in person at our DC dinner just confirmed everything I already felt. She's exactly the kind each of us needs in our orbit.

Paige Tills is the marketer I text when I want to nerd out on newsletters or gut-check a wild idea. She's sharp, creative, and absolutely crushing it with the #samsales newsletter. (If you’re not subscribed, fix that.)

And Kimberly Pencille Collins brings such strategic clarity that you can't want to help but be involved with what she's working on. #samsales Consulting#samsales Consulting always approaches work with the big picture in mind, and it's often thanks to Kim. 

This partnership isn’t just a checkbox.
 It’s a reflection of our values.
 It’s alignment in action.

So here’s your reminder: you don’t have to settle.
Choose to build with people who light you up and push you to grow.
Then celebrate the heck out of it. 💛

The best way to learn AI, is to play/experiment with it. 

Dominique Levin agrees. It's why she (and her daughter) created AICircles.org.

And YOU can take advantage of this amazing platform - supported by Wednesday Women - to join, create, play, and learn. 

With smart peers. 
On projects that matter to you and your business. 
Across 6 weekly sessions of 75 minutes each.

If you're thinking AI is a part of the "new year, new you" effort... Here's your chance. 

How have YOU been playing with AI so far? And what have you learned? I'd love to hear about it.

Inspired by the lovely Frida Ahrenby 🧚🏼 ...  My best and worst decisions, regrets, and what made me angry 2025👇🏽

1. Best decision?
Going full time on Wednesday Women.  It forced me to set aside all of my expectations of what I *thought* my career would look like... but it's given me: autonomy, joy, human connection, the chance to help others, more time with kids, more time with the powerful Leslie Greenwood, a bigger network, renewed love of brand...and a better relationship with the color purple. 

2. Worst decision?
I honestly don't believe that decisions are bad - they're just made with the info we have at the time. But I'll admit that I decided to use a certain tech product based *purely* on belief in a founder and that came back to bite me. Yowch. 

3. Something I did that surprised me?
I held a jellyfish.

4. Happier or lower than 2024?
2025 was more chaotic in many ways but I was more calm, thoughtful, and in control of my inner self so it felt WAY happier. I feel like I was able to really savor the moments that mattered most. 

5. What mattered most?
Being present for people when they need me. That's my kids, but it's also the folks in my network who reached out to ask for help, a talk, connection.   

6. What am I most proud of?
- Having kiddos who still want to talk and connect with us as parents, every day.
- Wednesday Women turning into a real business. 
- Capturing the experience of amazing women for others to learn from with The Ripple podcast - season 2 is amazing thanks to Ashley Laabs GNW Consulting and Jelena Djordjevic. 

7. Personal growth?
Leaning into what's in MY control which means both giving space to others to be their own selves AND being more clear about what I need.  This will be a work in progress. 

8. Something I regret?
Not joining the "We Do Not Care" club earlier.  I love being in my 40s and feeling free of so many pressures that I felt in prior years.  

9. Best book or series?
I know Leslie thinks they are weird, but I love anything by Eowyn Ivey.  

10. What made me angry?
People not listening to each other. The societal inability to exist with (and dare I say, be kind to) others with whom we don't agree. 
Also, when my dogs misbehave. 

11. Looking forward to 2026?
Providing a safe space for women execs with WW membership. 
Aligning with more leaders/founders that inspire me. 
Traveling with my family - and for work as well.

Copy the questions and answer them yourself ✍️💫

Drew Brucker

Marketer / 4 Under 40 / Midjourney Expert / Novel brand & creative direction for brands who want to leverage AI

I’m a brand and content leader turned AI creative consultant, keynote speaker, and trainer. 

I’ve spent 13+ years scaling early-to-mid stage B2B SaaS companies, launching products, building teams, and driving $150M+ in marketing-sourced revenue. I’m an American Marketing Association 4 Under 40 marketer, a Top 1% LinkedIn creator, and I’ve grown a community of 110K+ followers across social channels.

In 2023, I went solo to help brands create, operationalize, and scale on-brand visuals with AI. I design end-to-end creative systems, playbooks, prompts, and workflows that make high-quality visuals fast, repeatable, and unmistakably on-brand.

My digital products on AI image generation have surpassed six-figures in sales and are used by practitioners from 97+ countries across the globe. 

Past/current clients include: Pinterest, Meta, WPP, Marriott, Brooklyn Nets, Buddy, RealPage, Indiewalls, and others, where I do anything from creative/art direction, hands-on workshops, visual production pipelines, and creative team upskilling.

I also co-host Midjourney Fast Hours, a weekly podcast for marketers and creatives exploring the visual AI arena. 

My mission: help modern brands earn mindshare with visuals that travel...distinct, systemized, and built to scale.

Fractional CMO & Creative Consultant

Currently helping brands in the following areas:
❑ Marketing and GTM—strategy + execution (b2b SaaS)
❑ Midjourney workshops & speaking engagements
❑ Content, storytelling, and design
❑ Brand + art direction

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Melissa Moody 🦕

Drew Brucker

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