Entrepreneur and Business Owner
Christchurch, New Zealand (and Canada)
This conversation was originally published in 2018 as part of the original Careering Conversations series.
We've lightly edited it for readability while preserving the original conversation and advice, and added an update on what Melissa has been doing since we first spoke.
Rugby was Melissa Baer's first business lesson. Before she was even old enough to hold a proper job, she was finding ways to fund her own sporting ambitions, then teaching those same fundraising skills to other young athletes. It wasn't just about paying for rugby; it was about showing others what was possible when they took ownership of creating opportunities for themselves.
Unlike many people leaving school, Melissa never felt pressure to have every step of her career mapped out. She didn't know exactly what she wanted to do, but she knew business would always be part of her future and that understanding money would give her choices later in life.
That interest started early. Growing up on a farm in Canada, Melissa was involved in business planning and bookkeeping from a young age. While most teenagers weren't choosing to attend tax seminars, Melissa genuinely enjoyed learning about business, investing and financial management. It's a passion she's continued to develop throughout her career, believing there's a significant difference between earning money and knowing what to do with it once you've earned it.
After beginning her career in the corporate world, Melissa realised something wasn't quite right. She enjoyed solving problems and creating change, but the structure of corporate life didn't suit her. Rather than trying to fit into someone else's definition of success, she chose to create her own path through entrepreneurship.
Today, Melissa describes her work less as having a career and more as creating opportunities to make a difference. That perspective has shaped many of the decisions she's made, allowing her to build businesses that align with her values rather than simply chasing the next promotion.
Like every entrepreneur, though, she's also had to become comfortable with uncertainty.
Melissa describes entrepreneurship as embracing the unknown. While many people seek certainty, she's learnt that uncertainty often creates the greatest opportunities. Throughout it all, one definition of success has remained constant: freedom. Freedom to choose how she works, where she spends her time and the impact she wants to have.
Building businesses in both New Zealand and Canada hasn't always been easy. Managing work, relationships and responsibilities across two countries requires discipline, resilience and careful planning. Melissa credits much of that resilience to her upbringing on the farm, where she learnt to persevere, trust her instincts and keep going when things became difficult.
Melissa’s commitment to her own wellbeing came through clearly. She believes looking after your health isn't something you fit in when everything else is finished—it's the foundation that makes everything else possible. Time for exercise, recovery and personal wellbeing goes into her calendar first, not last.
Melissa is also passionate about helping more women build financial confidence. She believes understanding money gives women greater independence, more choices and the confidence to build careers and businesses on their own terms. Rather than adapting to fit traditionally male business environments, she encourages women to embrace what makes them different and recognise the value they already bring.
Since we first spoke
Update coming soon.
What Melissa taught us
Financial confidence creates choices. Melissa's story is a reminder that understanding money isn't just about building wealth—it's about creating the freedom to design a career and a life that reflect your values. Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone, but backing yourself, staying curious and investing in your own capability are lessons that apply whatever path you choose.
