Melissa Bernstein is an entrepreneur, creative, and working mother of six. In 1988, Melissa and her husband co-founded Melissa & Doug out of their parents’ garage. In the years that followed, they built Melissa & Doug into a wildly successful company. Melissa has spent the last 30 years helping children discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose through open-ended play. She estimates that she has built more than 6,000 toys in the last three decades!
Despite the early and sustained success Melissa experienced, she spent her life struggling with existential depression. In 2020, after her own personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Melissa co-founded Lifelines. Through Lifelines, she is using her unparalleled creativity and imagination to reinvent well-being products and experiences and help adults strengthen their resilience, stay grounded, and unlock their full potential.