Chief Story Officer
Lois Melbourne
We’re trained that bios should be written in the third person. This space had one of those for a while. I decided if you’re here to learn about me, why should I give you a disembodied rendering of some basic facts about me.
I’m an author. I struggled with my identity title for a while after selling our software company. I’d spent nineteen years as CEO and entrepreneur. I’m loving this new life wave.
I’ve spent time with students, teachers and after school programs, encouraging new ways to open the mystery of career paths and the world of work through my nonprofit, My Future Story. I published two books for elementary aged kids about exploring careers. It’s rewarding to see kids with “STEM Club Goes Exploring” and “Kids Go To Work Day”.
When I finished my first novel, “Moral Code”, I could look people in the eye and introduce myself as an author. “Moral Code” was conceived from discussions with Ross, my husband. He started with something like “wouldn’t it be cool to write a book about creating an ethical AI and all the good it could do to change the world?”
As often happens when Ross and I get excited about something, big things develop. Things like a global software company, a really cool son, our dream house. You get the picture. We collaborate a lot.
We both agreed the most ethical thing anyone or anything could do, would be to protect kids from abuse. So, the technology visionary and the storyteller created “Moral Code” containing the artificial intelligence I wish the world had right now.
No bio is complete without the pets. Molly loves to greet people and then is ready to be off on her own adventures. She likes her routine sprinkled with a bit of randomness. JP is a dog of the people and lives in the moment, EVERY moment. Many household decisions are made considering how they will impact the dogs.
Quick Facts About Me
- Travel, especially international, feeds my curiosity.
- I’m an optimist.
- I want to be a tougher badass than I really am.
- I’m pissed off about bigotry and the inequality in our society.
- I’m a tiny bit obsessed with Formula One.
- I think immigration into our country is one of its most special attributes.
- Contrary to my dislike of the repetitive mundane, I work the election polls.
- I’m focusing on this quote: “I reserve the right to learn new things and change in response to those new learnings.”
- When I write I prefer a view and not sitting at a desk.
“Choices create your possibilities.”
– Lois Melbourne
Interviews & Media
Podcast
Lois Melbourne, author, former co-founder and CEO of a tech company shares her career journey and how she navigated the technology space as a young, female CEO a couple decades ago, and the challenges and opportunities it brought her.
GUEST ARTICLE
Lois Melbourne’s guest post on Book Club Babble discusses the importance of ethics, equity, and diversity in STEM fields, particularly the inclusion of women and other underrepresented groups. Melbourne argues that ethical behavior is influenced by environmental factors and that women are both uniquely trained to challenge the status quo and well-positioned to challenge the ethical issues in the industry’s systems.
Podcast
In the first episode of season three, Lois discusses her experience working in tech, becoming a CEO, and balancing the demands of the corporate world with the responsibilities of motherhood.
GUEST ARTICLE
Podcast
Lois discusses the excitement of her former life as a software CEO and entrepreneur. She is joined by her husband, Ross, a successful business executive and technology leader who collaborated with Lois on her recent novel, Moral Code.
GUEST ARTICLE
In her guest post on Hasty Book List, Lois discusses the benefits of reading outside of one’s comfort genre. Melbourne explains that reading habits can become confining and that stepping out of one’s comfort zone can lead to broader thinking, improved writing skills, and easy dinner conversation fodder.
