Amanda Melillo

About Amanda Melillo

After more than a decade of mission-driven work in the democracy field, the most important thing I\'ve learned is that building strong organizations is the most important tool for creating big impact in the world. I\'m a planner at heart, and that\'s one of the most energizing parts of my role which starts at high-level strategy, funnels down to the work plan level and then the individual project level, and translates into budget and staffing. I have a talent for being able to zoom out to see the big picture and then zoom in to the smallest detail and understand which pieces all fit together. I\'ve been told that I have a time machine and can see ten years ahead and where we need to be; but I can also immediately switch to solving for what we need to do tomorrow to get there. The strength I bring to this type of work is because of the way my mind works: sometimes it’s a white board, sometimes it’s a workflow, sometimes it’s a spreadsheet, and sometimes it’s a chessboard. Of course, you can have the best laid plan and not be able to achieve any of it if you do not have an excellent team around you. I also translate between strategic planning and organizational structure to people management. I lead a multidisciplinary division, and this requires me to manage and add value to a team ranging from logic-driven data analysts who code in programming languages, to organized and detail-oriented project managers, to creative types including artists and content creators, to charismatic outreach staff who excel at building relationships. My role is about setting up the organizational structures that can unlock their superpowers, and then creating the conditions for them to grow and excel. I coach and mentor staff at multiple levels to help them set goals and achieve their fullest potential in order to serve the New York City public while also growing and developing within their own careers.

Experience

1. First Deputy Executive Director

   NYC Campaign Finance Board

   Sep 2024 — Present · New York, NY, US

Education

• Vassar College

  B.A., Double major in English and Medieval and Renaissance Studies; minor in Italian

  2003 — 2007

• Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

  M.A., Political Science

  2010 — 2011