Melissa Gonzalez

Principal/Founder

The Lionesque Group – MG2

Continually pushing the boundaries of experiential retail, Melissa Gonzalez is a Principal at MG2, a global design and architecture firm, and leads the firm’s Advisory Group and AI Proof of Concepts Team. Drawing on her success as a Wall Street executive, as well as a seasoned entrepreneur who has worked side by side with some of the fastest growing direct to consumer companies and well established brands, she advises on how to leverage forward thinking consumer trends with innovative strategy from concept through implementation. She leads creative teams and delivers authentic design solutions, helping clients achieve their ultimate vision. Attendees of Melissa’s keynotes leave enlightened, energized and ready to put her industry insights into practice. Also, the host of the Retail Refined Podcast, she has received prestigious recognitions including: one of The Top 10 Executives in New York City to Watch by New York Business Journal, WWD’s “25 Most Influential Women Leaders of 2022”, and is consistently recognized as one of the leading ‘Women In Design’ and ‘Top Retail Design Influencers of the Year’. When she’s not dreaming up innovative retail spaces, Melissa can be found seeking in unexpected places (like skydiving 10,000 feet above ground).