Meet Melody Caban

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melody Caban a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melody, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being the only Latina in the room isn’t a new experience for me. In fact, it often highlights precisely why my presence is so important. I’ve learned to lean into the understanding that no one else will be exactly like me, and that’s not a weakness – it’s a powerful asset. My unique background and point of view are an integral part of the value I bring to any project or discussion.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a museum store consultant, and my passion ignites the moment I step into any museum. Because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love stopping at the museum store?

I have the incredible privilege of partnering with inspiring museums across the U.S. (art, science, history, you name it!), helping them infuse both profit and purpose back into their retail spaces.

This isn’t just about stocking shelves; it looks like crafting comprehensive strategies, conducting assessments, rethinking stores from the ground up, and even collaborating across museum departments to create custom, gallery-worthy products and unique merchandise mixes that resonate with visitors.

The most exciting part? Watching a museum’s store transform into a truly dynamic extension of its mission – what I like to call “the final exhibit” of a visitor’s journey.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities have truly propelled my journey: Curiosity, Empathy, and Continuous Learning.

Curiosity
Always ask “why” and “what if?”. It’s about going beyond the surface level to uncover deeper insights. This foundational curiosity helps me understand the true landscape of a project or challenge.

Empathy
This means truly listening and understanding others’ perspectives. Often, the issue we first encounter isn’t the real problem to solve. Empathy allows me to uncover the root cause, leading to more effective and compassionate solutions.

Continuous Learning
Get excited about your field! For me, that means I’m always learning, always searching out new trends across retail, museums, and nonprofits. This commitment keeps my strategies fresh and innovative, allowing me to pull from a broad knowledge base to create highly practical and impactful approaches for museums.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Let’s make museums amazing! I’m actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with museums eager to go beyond the two dimensional store and with fellow museum professionals I can be an asset to. If you have a project in mind, I’d love to be involved. You can reach me on my website at melodycabanconsulting.com or connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-caban/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.melodycabanconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodycabanconsulting/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-caban/