About True Story
Built for Businesses Navigating Growth and Change
Growth and change can challenge even the strongest brands. As businesses evolve, their positioning, customer proposition and strategic priorities need to evolve with them. True Story helps founders and leadership teams navigate these decisions, connecting brand strategy with the wider ambitions of the business.
Meet Melissa Brooks, Founder of True Story. With more than 20 years of experience across brand strategy, marketing and business leadership, Melissa brings together strategic expertise, commercial thinking and practical experience shaped through senior roles with brands including Nkuku, L’Occitane and Neal's Yard Remedies.
Working alongside founders and leadership teams, Melissa brings an independent perspective to businesses navigating growth, change and transition. Her approach is thoughtful, collaborative and grounded in honest conversations that challenge assumptions, strengthen positioning and help businesses make more informed decisions.
Our Perspective
We believe brand strategy should shape more than perception.
The strongest businesses create alignment between what they stand for, what they offer and the experiences they create for customers.
When brand strategy connects with business ambition, product decisions and customer experience, it becomes a practical foundation for stronger decisions across the business.
For founders, that can mean protecting the purpose and ambition that shaped the business in the first place. For leadership teams, it means establishing a clear direction for growth without losing what makes the business distinctive.
How We Work
We believe strong partnerships create stronger outcomes. Our work is grounded in thoughtful collaboration, honest conversations and a long-term view of growth.
Strategic Partnership
We work closely with founders and leadership teams as a trusted strategic partner, bringing continuity, context and experienced perspective through periods of growth and change.
Honest Perspective
We ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions where needed and bring an independent perspective to important decisions. Strong positioning starts with honest thinking.
Purposeful Growth
We believe commercial ambition and responsible business practices should work together. Our approach considers how brand decisions create value for the business, its customers and the people and communities connected to it.
Building Brands with Purpose
For Melissa, purpose has never been about statements or campaigns. It's about the principles that shape how a business operates, the decisions it makes and the impact it has on people and the world around it.
Having worked extensively with purpose-led and ethical brands, she understands the importance of connecting commercial ambition with responsible business practices. From sourcing and sustainability to customer experience and internal culture, a brand's commitments need to be supported by meaningful action.
The strongest brands align commercial ambition with meaningful impact.
Trusted by Ambitious Brands and Leadership Teams
Our experience spans established consumer brands, growing independent businesses and purpose-led brands. From senior in-house leadership to independent consultancy, we bring a deep understanding of how brands are built, managed and developed within the realities of running a business.
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Strategy, Marketing Activation & Senior Leadership at Nkuku
Brand Thinking for a Changing World
True Story Insights explores the evolving world of brand-building. We look beyond trends to examine the behaviours, ideas and cultural shifts shaping how brands grow and communicate.
Ready for stronger positioning and clearer direction?
Whether navigating growth, investment, or change, let’s start with a conversation.
This is where your True Story begins.
Prefer email?
Contact Melissa directly at hello@truestoryconsultancy.com