From High School Dreams to Global Impact: The Journey of Melanie Wong
“Your vibe attracts your tribe.” That quote couldn’t ring more true in this powerful and inspiring interview on The Make It Count Show with your host, Michelle Latocha. In this heartfelt episode, Michelle reconnects with longtime friend and fellow changemaker, Melanie Wong—a passionate entrepreneur, advocate, and the visionary founder of Olive and Splash.
From nostalgic laughs about their high school days to raw truths about resilience, purpose, and personal healing, Melanie’s story is one you’ll want to carry with you long after the last word.
🌱 A Journey Without a Map
Melanie didn’t grow up knowing what she wanted to do—and that’s exactly what led her to where she is now.
“I had so many jobs in high school,” she laughs, “every sector you could imagine.” But looking back, that variety was a gift. It gave her the practical experience she needed to understand what she didn’t want—and eventually, what she did.
After years of travel and exploration, Melanie returned to school in her late twenties to study Public Relations and Corporate Communications, a decision she now calls a pivotal turning point. “If I went back to school now, I’d be an A+ student,” Michelle chimed in, echoing a sentiment many of us can relate to—the difference that age, purpose, and passion make in education.
🧠 From Cubicles to Creativity
Fresh out of school, Melanie landed a corporate job at a prestigious engineering firm. Great pay, amazing colleagues—but something didn’t sit right.
“I felt like a cat in a kennel,” she says candidly.
So, she took a leap of faith, leaving the safety of corporate life to volunteer at a boutique PR agency. It paid off. Melanie soon found herself managing major accounts, including the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and even working alongside NHL and CFL players and a sports agent.
One of her most exciting (and humbling) opportunities? Contributing to a Snoop Dogg campaign. But despite the glitz, Melanie learned a hard truth: “You can work your tail off and still see zero return.”
That was the nudge she needed to pivot from service-based work to product-based entrepreneurship—and that’s where Olive and Splash was born.
👶 The Birth of a Brand
On a cold night at a Toronto Maple Leafs game, inspiration struck. Melanie had just become an aunt and was looking for stylish, sustainable clothing for her nephew—but couldn’t find anything that hit the mark.
So she created it.
Using bamboo textiles made in Canada, Melanie designed a minimalist athleisure suit. “It started with baby clothes, and when people asked for adult versions, I created a whole line,” she explains.
Today, Olive and Splash is known for its comfortable, sustainable, and stylish clothing—crafted with purpose and made to last.
💚 Fashion That Heals
More than just fashion, Melanie’s brand is rooted in wellness. She now works with textiles like 100% wool and linen, which she says “vibrate at a higher frequency than the human body—it’s healing to wear.”
Raised with an awareness of the environment, sustainability has always been at Melanie’s core. “What we put on our skin matters. It enters our bloodstream in just 26 seconds,” she explains. From avoiding toxic polyester to educating consumers on overconsumption, her mission is clear: fashion should be good for people and the planet.
💪 Sticking to Her Values, No Matter the Cost
Along the way, Melanie faced pressure to follow the crowd.
“I was told to stop manufacturing in Canada, to use cheap polyester. But I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t wear clothes filled with fossil fuels—and I wouldn’t ask others to either.”
Staying true to her values wasn’t easy, but it’s now what sets her apart. “Some of the same people who gave me that advice are now trying to go ‘Made in Canada’ and sustainable. I’m glad I stuck it out.”
🎙️ Welcome to My Hustle: A Passion Project
Melanie’s entrepreneurial energy doesn’t stop at fashion. She recently launched a content series called Welcome to My Hustle, which began as a tribute to inspiring women on International Women’s Day. Her first guest? Renata Fast, Olympic gold medalist and player for Team Canada.
The project quickly grew to feature inspiring men and women doing remarkable things, from professional athletes to wellness gurus like Harry Jameson, whose global reach and motivational energy left Melanie inspired.
🛑 Breaking the Silence: A Voice for Survivors
One of the most impactful moments in the interview was Melanie’s decision to share her own experience with sexual assault—a courageous move that’s helped spark conversation and healing in countless others.
“I told my story, and the messages poured in—so many women came forward saying, ‘This happened to me too.’”
Melanie is now a board member at the Niagara Sexual Assault Centre, working to raise awareness, eliminate stigma, and advocate for more therapists and funding to serve those in crisis. “There’s a five-month waitlist. That’s not okay,” she says firmly.
She encourages others to speak up, support, and get involved, even if it’s volunteering for a couple of hours on a Saturday.
🧭 What’s Next for Melanie?
Melanie is just getting started.
She’s currently working on a new business that complements everything she’s already built, and she’s expanding Olive and Splash with pop-ups on the West Coast and in California.
This past November, she launched her first pop-up shop in Vancouver, and the dream is to get a second truck on the road—spreading sustainable fashion and positivity coast-to-coast.
🎓 Recognized and Respected
Melanie’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. She received the Alumni of Distinction Award from Mohawk College, recognition from Premier Doug Ford, and was even painted as an “Innovative Woman” by Mohawk students.
She’s a speaker, a mentor, and maybe—just maybe—a future face on Canada’s version of Shark Tank or Dragon’s Den. Michelle sure thinks so. (And we agree!)
💫 Final Words
Melanie Wong embodies what it means to make it count—not just in business, but in life, healing, and community.
From taking a chance on her own dreams, to raising awareness for the voiceless, to building a brand grounded in wellness and sustainability, her story is one of courage, creativity, and conviction.
So if you’re looking for your next source of inspiration—or a bamboo hoodie that heals—look no further than Melanie Wong.
Follow Melanie:
Apparel Brand: Olive and Splash
Passion Project: Welcome to My Hustle
Advocacy: Niagara Sexual Assault Centre
Instagram: @oliveandsplash
Want to get involved? Volunteer or donate to your local support centers. And if you have a story to tell—know that you’re not alone.
Blog by: Michelle Latocha, Host of The Make It Count Show
Watch the full episode and subscribe for more inspiring conversations.
📢 Join Us and Stay Updated!
Keep up with our latest podcast episodes, industry insights, and exclusive content by subscribing to our channel and following us on social media. Don’t miss a thing!
Subscribe to Visibility Boosters
Website: Digital Marketing | Web Design | Social Media | https://visibilityboosters.com/
Instagram: The Visibility Boosters | @thevisibilityboosters
Facebook: The Visibility Boosters | https://www.facebook.com/thevisibilityboosters
Twitter on X: The Visibility Boosters | @visibility_the
Spotify: Make It Count Show | https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/visibility-boosters
Connect with Michelle
Instagram: 🌸Michelle Latocha🌸Women's Health and Empowerment Coach | @michelleliftswomen
Connect with Melanie Wong
Website: Olive and Splash | https://www.oliveandsplash.com/
Facebook: oliveandsplash | https://www.facebook.com/oliveandsplash/
Instagram: oliveandsplash | https://www.instagram.com/oliveandsplash/
Twitter on X: oliveandsplash | @oliveandsplash
Email: [email protected]
For inquiries, guest appearances, or sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to us at Make It Count Show.
