Melanie Cook: Inspiring Women in the Workplace

As Supervisor of Fulfillment for the Beltway Region, which serves the greater Washington, D.C. area, Melanie Cook has reached a 25-year milestone working at Comcast. She is also a leader in Comcast’s Women’s Network Employee Resource Group (ERG), where she strives to empower and champion women and their allies in their careers. Learn more about Melanie’s journey in the interview below.

Q. You’ve held many roles at Comcast over the last 25 years. Can you tell us a bit about your career journey?

A: “I started my career in 1995 at a neighborhood cable company in Philadelphia. I had two small children at the time and was working as a care agent answering phone calls, selling cable, and troubleshooting.

“About two years in, Comcast acquired the company, which was super exciting for me. I first worked as an analyst, and after moving to northeast Philadelphia, I took on a dispatch supervisor role before eventually overseeing the whole team.

“I now live in Maryland and sit in field traffic control as a Supervisor of Fulfillment. We have a team of 13 that supports the Beltway region with tech dispatches and IT resolutions in Salisbury and Ocean City, MD, and Dover, DE.”

Q. What inspired you to build your career with Comcast?

A: “The company is massive, and for me that meant tons of opportunity for growth. For most of my career I've been a single mother and, at Comcast, I had a solid paycheck, medical coverage, and the career I was looking for. I’ve been able to take care of my children financially while serving as a role model for them. I always joke that besides my two sons and my mother, Comcast has been my third longest relationship.

“Throughout the years, I’ve had a few health scares with my children, and I always had Comcast in my corner. Beyond the medical coverage the company provided, I had the support of company leaders. It's funny because even though Comcast is so big, it still feels like a family company to me.”

Q. You are also a leader in Comcast’s Women’s Network ERG. What has been your proudest accomplishment in that role?

A. “Through the Women's Network, I facilitated the first virtual Lean In Circle in the Beltway region in November 2023. Our Circle was made up of a small group of women from the area, all around the same age and who had each been at Comcast for more than 20 years.

“The meeting was a safe space for us to talk about the changes in our lives – whether we were thinking about retirement, career advancement, or personal growth. I’m proud to have helped stand up this opportunity for these women to connect and learn from each other.”

Q. How do you view the role of Comcast’s ERGs?

A. “I’m a big supporter of the ERGs and I highly recommend that people join at least one of them. Our ERGs bring in people from different backgrounds, origins, and identities in an inclusive way – everyone gets a seat at the table. It’s an amazing opportunity that the company offers. And it’s a privilege to work somewhere that really values how its employees’ feel while embracing and celebrating our differences.”

Q. Can you share one key to success that got you where you are today?

A. “Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. When something is uncomfortable, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Like public speaking. It was scary for me at first, but I get in front of the podium, I put myself out there – I say ‘yes’ to trying new things.

“When Comcast acquired the cable company I worked for years ago, I jumped at the opportunity to become an analyst. It was new to me, but if I had said no back then, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”