I have known today’s Powerful Stories podcast guest since I was a teenager, so I am particularly excited to share her wonderful story with the Powerful Steps podcast community. Melissa Trafford-Jones (or the Sustainable Queen of Diamonds, as she is now known!) launched her incredible sustainable diamond business, Deltora Diamonds, in 2021. She has since blown me and everyone else away with its astonishing growth in a very short time.
A mother of four boys, Melissa bravely launched her business – and in doing so, forged a brand-new market in Australia – in her forties. I believe that we shouldn’t tick boxes, we should make new ones – and Mel is a shining example of someone who stepped outside the box others wanted to place her in, and forged her own incredible path in life and business.
A couple of years ago, Melissa was blessed in many ways, yet despite this, she wasn’t wholly satisfied in her life. She knew that the time had come when she needed to make a change. She felt so stuck, to the point that she wasn’t sleeping at night, but Melissa had to overcome a lot of fear before she was ready to take the leap. And leap she did!
In this podcast episode, Melissa Trafford-Jones talks about how happy she is that she finally managed to dig deep and found the inner courage to go out on her own, on her own terms.
In less than a year since launching her brand in April 2021, this inspirational entrepreneur has been featured in the AFR, Sydney Morning Herald and more, and business couldn’t be going better.
Melissa has boldly created a new category with her lab diamonds that are sustainable, ethical and affordable – and through trust, connection and loyalty, she has shown people that there is in fact another way to buy diamonds.
She is so passionate about what she does, and truly loves that her work involves making people happy at the most exciting times in their lives. I’m so happy and excited for Melissa, who is a true heart-led warrior in business and in life, driving a new category while doing it all from the heart.