Presenter: Melanie Fisk, MSW, MBA

Principal & Founder | Adaptive Ascent Group

Melanie Fisk (MSW, MBA) is an executive strategist and systems builder. Over the past 20+ years, Melanie has led change across nonprofit and public-sector settings, including serving as CEO of Literacy Advance of Houston, where she guided a turnaround and merger that doubled service capacity and expanded wraparound supports. She’s also held senior leadership roles at large, regional community organizations and directed national-scale technical assistance efforts connected to federal initiatives. Her superpower is building environments where great teams can do their best work and where strategy doesn’t live in a file, but is a living, organic part of a truly ground-up, adaptive culture.

In 2025, Melanie launched Adaptive Ascent Group, small boutique consulting firm to help small-to-mid sized organizations turn big goals into day-to-day momentum. She has gathered a team of systems builders and “implementation translators” who love the messy middle where strategy meets real people, AND real-world constraints. Together they aim to be your favorite thought partner. You know, the one who is grounded, will tell you the truth (even when it’s hard), who is just the right amount of wonky, and who loves to help you get stuff done!

When she’s not leading design workshops or geeking out with a new read, Melanie’s usually in the kitchen cooking something elaborate, hanging out with her two rescue pups, or connecting with a friend, preferably while being outside. She’s especially curious about the seismic shifts facing civil society and how we can reimagine systems for collective resilience. Based in Alexandria, VA, Melanie brings both humor and humanity to her work, and she’s always up for a good question and a deeper conversation.