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Melina Bellows

Turnaround Queen. Publishing Icon. Chief Fun Officer.

Melina Bellows

A trailblazing figure in the world of children’s publishing, Melina Bellows has a boundless imagination and a passion for education that has elevated every project she has undertaken. As the president of Fun Factory Press, a prestigious boutique publishing business, Melina leads the charge in delivering captivating and informative nonfiction content to young minds.


With an illustrious career at National Geographic, first as Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of Books and Kids and Family programming, then as Chief Education Officer, Melina’s impact on the publishing industry is undeniable. She has revolutionized the landscape of children’s literature, creating countless products and franchises that have captivated the hearts and minds of millions. Among her notable achievements is the New York Times best-selling National Geographic Kids Almanac, a must-have resource book for young readers, and the Weird but True! series, which comprises 30 books and boasts an astonishing collective sales figure of over 2.1 million copies. She also saved Nat Geo’s first kids magazine—the rather dusty  National Geographic World—from the trash bin and oversaw the reimagination and reintroduction of it National Geographic Kids, which now ranks as the number one kids’ magazine and has brought joy and wonder to countless children around the world.


Melina’s commitment to fostering a love for learning and exploration is not confined to her professional life. As a mother herself, she understands the importance of nurturing young minds. This personal connection fuels her dedication to creating educational content that engages, entertains, and enlightens young readers.


In a world where knowledge is the key to unlocking limitless possibilities, Melina stands as a beacon of innovation and creativity. Her unwavering dedication to children’s enrichment and education, coupled with her immense imagination, makes learning an exciting adventure.

Melina Bellows

Child’s Play: A Creative Approach to Rebooting a Business


Transforming a business into something new starts with vision. But how do you picture something that doesn’t yet exist? Creativity. First and foremost a content creator, Melina uses the magical key of storytelling to share how she led 3 global business turnarounds, such as turning a cost-center into a $65M top revenue-generating flagship for National Geographic. This talk will cover how to engage, motivate and inspire teams to embrace challenges to devise fresh solutions to promote new revenue growth while retaining a loyal customer base.

Featured Presentation

Photos: courtesy Melina Bellows

Current Titles

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Seen & Heard

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