Melanie Mack is a single mother with two incredible teenage sons. She's a Daytime EMMY Award television development executive having worked for Warner Bros., Paramount Studios and was part of the original launch team for FX Networks before launching her own companies and raising $1.5 million in seed capital to fund an urban portal with software partner, Load Media. Today, Melanie raises monies for nonprofit organizations, provides strategic thought partnership to entrepreneurs, private and nonprofit sector executives and young professionals while balancing two businesses and raising her boys – her annual film festival exclusively for women, The Four Walls Film Festival presents Women In Shorts held in March and a platform for single mothers in need of tools, inspiration and support through The Power of the Single Mom. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her sons and believes that anything is possible.

I created Power of the Single Mom to give all working mothers (in the home and outside of the home) a community of women that understand the unique challenges single mothers face while balancing family and work. Power of the Single Mom has held small workshops where invited speakers have come to teach women how they've navigated their careers and businesses while managing their family. The workshops are not "rah rah" sessions rather, they provide tools that women can immediately implement to help them transition from home to corporate life, private to nonprofit sector or courageously step out and become an entrepreneur.

When I went through my divorce more than a decade ago, I learned (through trial and more error) how to rebuild my life and stability for my children. I've learned some incredible lessons along the way - I've fallen and realized that no one was going to pick me up but me and the grace and mercy of God. That realization was a serious wake up call!

As a single mom and entrepreneur, I'm constantly asked how I've managed to have success in my careers while raising my, now, teenage sons. Honestly, I haven't done anything that the next single mother can't do and that is simply to spend quality time, utilize and vet your community for support and let your children see you go for your dreams -- Your children love seeing you happy and operating in your gifts - it gives your children and the women in your life permission to do the same.

There's no better reward than helping other women own their power, push through their fears and operate in their gifts.

Melanie currently serves on the board of Chocolate Chix and is an advisory board member for the California Women's Conference and Girl's Inc. of Greater Los Angeles. She is also the Managing Director for eWomenNetwork Ladera Heights' Chapter and an African American Board Leadership Institute (AABLI) Alumna. Her first book will be released later this year.