Melissa Crosby: Finding the Perfect Match in Talent and Community

In the vibrant landscape of Raleigh's tech ecosystem, Melissa Crosby stands out with her unique blend of Southern charm and shrewd business acumen. As Director of Talent Acquisition & Community at Colopy Ventures, she's not just building teams – she's reshaping how women participate in the innovation economy.

"The culture part is as big a piece as the skill set. I'm looking for people who are curious, adaptable, and resilient – who can get on that rollercoaster and not get stressed about the ups and downs that happen in a startup."

-Melissa Crosby

"I'm on the front lines," Melissa says with her characteristic Tennessee lilt. "I'm the first voice, first face of the company. Putting people at ease is important because interviewing is very stressful."

Her journey to becoming a talent acquisition powerhouse began unexpectedly. After graduating with a business degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Melissa's first role was leasing apartments – an experience that transformed a self-described "really shy" college graduate into someone who could make strangers feel comfortable while asking probing questions. This skill transferred perfectly to recruiting, where she discovered her gift for matching people with opportunities where they can thrive.

"I enjoy having an impact on people's lives, hopefully for the better," she explains.

Melissa's career trajectory includes building teams at several successful tech companies, including Bronto Software (where she worked with Joe Colopy for six years), Pendo (where she was employee number thirty and the first recruiter), and blockchain startup Kaleidos, before joining Colopy Ventures.

When evaluating talent, especially for startups, Melissa looks beyond technical skills: "The culture part is as big a piece as the skill set. I'm looking for people who are curious, adaptable, and resilient – who can get on that rollercoaster and not get stressed about the ups and downs that happen in a startup."

Her commitment to diversity in tech led to co-founding Lila (Ladies Investing Local Angels) with Jenn Summe. The initiative was born from a simple observation: Jenn noticed she gained more from events when women were present, but there simply weren't enough of them in investment circles.

"When you look at the statistics of venture capital, women are only getting a little less than 3%. If you're a Black female, you're even further down the list. It's 2025 – that doesn't make sense and makes me angry," Melissa says, her smile never fading despite the seriousness of her message.

With Lila now boasting over 160 members, Melissa is helping to change those statistics by giving women another option for their money and removing barriers to angel investing.

Her passion for nurturing talent extends to mentoring students through the Meredith Entrepreneurship Challenge and advising women in computer science at NC State. Her advice to young women entering the workforce?

"Don't be afraid to push back and negotiate. Women especially aren't comfortable with negotiation," she observes. To instill this confidence early, Melissa teaches her daughter to ask for compensation for tasks at home – "I'll pay you for a task, but you have to ask me."

As she continues building teams and communities, Melissa brings her uniquely positive perspective to addressing systemic challenges: "I try to always look for the silver lining and think about how I can make a difference. I try to control what I can control and be helpful to other people who are also trying to do the same."

In a world where tech recruiting can feel transactional, Melissa Crosby's approach is refreshingly relational – matching not just skills with jobs, but people with purpose.