JUSTIN R. MELVILLE
OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES
Meaning is the only real competitive advantage left.
In a world of infinite noise, relevance is the only moat. I help teams find the "Why" and bake it into the "What" and the "How." Design-led, product-hardened, and built for a landscape where only the intentional survive.
The Method to the Magic
01. WHYSoul
Meaning is the only moat. In a landscape of infinite noise, I help teams define the core "Why" and translate it into a narrative that actually makes people care.
BRAND & IDENTITY02. WHATStructure
Design with intent. Purpose is useless without performance. I turn brand soul into high-fidelity products and user experiences where every pixel serves the mission.
Product & Design 03. HOWEngine
Built to survive reality. I bring a decade of grit in tech and business strategy to ensure the vision scales. I navigate technical constraints and optimize for real growth.
Tech & Business StrategyCAREER HIGHLIGHTS
3X
REVENUE GROWTH
$83M+
FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
$50M
PLATFORM VOLUME/YR
1 Exit
FOUNDER EXIT
REW
VP, Brand
2020–2024
Transformed a dying business model into 3x revenue growth
Western Canada's largest real estate marketplace was trapped in a commodity spiral. I led the complete transformation — repositioning the brand, redesigning the product, and building go-to-market for a new membership model.
Leading real estate brand · 30%+ ARR growth
Lodestar Media
VP, Brand
2024–2025
Unified 15+ legacy media titles into one digital-first brand
BC's largest community media group was a collection of declining print titles. I led the rebrand and developed a portfolio framework that aligned teams around a shared digital future.
Yoco
Principal Designer
2020
Contributed to Africa's largest fintech Series C
Worked directly with founders on product narrative, brand refresh, and experience design during a critical fundraising period.
$83M Series C closed
Ekaya / reOS
Founder & CPO
2013–2020
Built and sold South Africa's first rental marketplace
Founded Ekaya from zero, took it through Dragon's Den SA, and achieved acquisition. Post-acquisition, led product for a payments platform processing $50M annually.
Successful founder exit · $50M APV
I got my start tilting at windmills to connect creators with their true fans.
Pioneered the concept of peer-to-peer patronage and viral music distribution. Successfully seed-funded and established a global music distribution and membership platform, operating in 168 countries. Delivered a TEDx Talk on ‘Rethinking the Music Industry’ in 2012.
Micro-subscription ・ Global distribution
Along the way, I’ve designed & built countless brand identities for people who care about how they show up in the world.
I’ve had the honour of helping great minds visualize and commercialize the impact of a generational scientific breakthrough.
Served as the creative director in the formative stages of the global digital health company known as LifeQ. Worked with world-leading computation systems biologists to help communicate their radical vision to the world.
Conceptual product development ・ Fundraising support
Three ideas that shape how I work
Change leadership
The best opportunities come when the old playbook stops working. I've led transformations where business models were failing and markets were shifting — and found the path forward.
Founder mindset
Not a corporate operator. I've built companies from scratch, raised capital, made payroll, and sold a business. I move fast, own outcomes, and understand what success requires.
Systems thinking
My design background means I see connections others miss — how brand, product, pricing, and experience interact. I don't optimise in silos; I redesign systems to work together.