NAVIGATING BUSINESS CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE

Melody Harkness is a force for transformation.  As Principal Consultant and CEO of Harkness Consulting Solutions, Melody brings a career devoted to breaking down barriers and building up communities. With a master's in legal studies from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and a bachelor's degree in Africana Studies and Community Development from North Carolina State University, she has combined academic excellence with real-world leadership to guide organizations toward justice, equity, and lasting change.

Melody’s experience spans public, nonprofit, and private sectors. From leading organizational assessments to designing workforce development programs, she has reimagined systems so they honor the dignity and potential of every person. Her leadership with the City of Rochester, Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Albany Law School, and numerous civic boards has strengthened community relationships and advanced equitable systems for marginalized populations.

In addition to her consulting work, Melody serves in a management capacity at one of the nation's top ten public pension funds, where she leads enterprise-wide learning and development and organizational change initiatives. Melody also holds leadership roles on both local and national boards and task forces, where she helps shape policy, guide community engagement, and advance equity-focused solutions. Her contributions to public service and leadership have earned her multiple honors, including Women of Distinction and Exemplary Community Service awards.

Certified in Business Analytics, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Everything DiSC®, and a Change Management and Mental Health First Aid practitioner, Melody’s credentials reflect a lifelong commitment to learning and growth. She shows us what is possible when expertise meets purpose, and when courageous leadership dares to create workplaces and communities that truly belong to everyone.

Through Harkness Consulting Solutions, Melody continues to light the way, helping leaders step into their power, strengthen their purpose, and build organizations worthy of the communities they serve.