In this episode, Mark sits down with Melanie Allen, CEO and co-founder of Green Loop Marketing, to trace her path from aspiring professor to leading a thriving boutique marketing agency in Indianapolis.

They explore how Melanie’s early influences, including being raised by a single mother and navigating setbacks in grad school, shaped her leadership journey. She shares the lessons of building a business with values at the center, choosing the right clients, and embracing the messy realities of entrepreneurship.

Melanie opens up about moments of doubt, the importance of vulnerability, and how peer groups transformed her confidence as a leader. She also highlights the power of walking away from misaligned clients, integrating work and life on her own terms, and believing that people are always more than their work.

• Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn

• Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

• Learn more about Quade

• Take the CEO Mindset Assessment

• Green Loop Marketing was co-founded in 2017, born from freelancing and friendship.

• The name “Green Loop” reflects sustainability and a nod to Indianapolis.

• Melanie’s single mom shaped her ambition, and her grad school dropout story sparked resilience.

• Entrepreneurship means trade-offs—but control, meaning, and flexibility make it worthwhile.

• Client alignment matters: “We did not have to work with assholes.”

• Peer groups provide connection, support, and confidence for CEOs navigating loneliness.

• Vulnerability builds trust, which fuels stronger leadership and culture.