Melanie MacDonald's journey to the BRW Fast 100 list showcases her belief that the secret to profits is in unlocking the unique puzzle in every business. Growing up in a rural town, she left home at 17 to start a degree as a veterinarian. It turned out becoming a vet involved cutting up lots of animals and not saving fluffy kittens, so she graduated instead with a degree in chemistry.

Melanie quickly rose to a senior management role within the world's largest pharmaceutical company. However, her love of a challenge led her in her 20s to the world of real estate, where she started in residential investment, then eventually commercial property and land development.

Identifying opportunities and adding value is her common theme. She founded an award-winning education business in her 30s, was listed in BRW's Fast 100 and Top 100 Business Women, and acquired then grew a national business by 800% and sold it to a publicly listed company. Another of her personal success stories includes buying a business from liquidators for 1/14th of the asking price and turning it back into a thriving venture.

Melanie's achievements have made her a sought-after speaker, author, and business growth advisor. These days (when not scuba diving or riding her horses) she does a small amount of growth consulting. She has been a finalist in businesswoman of the year awards in two countries, featured in national newspapers, and appeared on television in Australia and the USA. Her international presence includes speaking to audiences as large as 4,000 people and consulting in various countries.

At the heart of Melanie's work is her desire to open others' eyes to the concept that the opportunity of a lifetime comes along once a month, helping them distinguish between a genuine opportunity and a distraction. In her recent consulting projects she has grown businesses for the owners, then automated the processes to free up time and money. This allows the owners to step back and make other investments and reduce their financial risk.