ABOUT ERIKA BRECHTEL
Strategic advisor, brand consultant, and social entrepreneur helping women make their mark matter.
My purpose is clear: elevating women globally. For more than two decades, I have helped founders, physicians, entrepreneurs, and leaders transform expertise, vision, and purpose into businesses, brands, programs, and initiatives that create meaningful impact. Through strategic advisory, brand development, speaking, and Élanoura, I help women bring their ideas to life and build work that reflects who they are and the contribution they want to make.
bio
Erika Brechtel is a strategic advisor, brand consultant, speaker, and social entrepreneur who has spent more than 20 years helping founders, physicians, executives, and women leaders bring ambitious ideas to life with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.
Since 2002, her work has spanned strategic advisory, brand development, speaking, mentoring, angel investing in women-led companies, nonprofit leadership, and social entrepreneurship. Grounded in a lifelong engagement with art and visual culture, including a B.A. in Art History from UCLA, her approach brings together strategic thinking, creative direction, and a deep understanding of how meaning is communicated through visual language. Through her consulting practice, she has advised leaders across healthcare, wellness, consumer products, professional services, and social impact, helping them shape distinctive brands, businesses, programs, and platforms that reflect their vision and the contribution they want to make.
Erika has been featured in Forbes, Thrive Global, SELF Magazine, HuffPost, POPSUGAR, LUXE Magazine, and on the cover of OC Family Magazine. She has spoken for and facilitated workshops with organizations including UCLA Anderson School of Management, UCLA Alumni, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Junior League, Bumble Bizz, and Fabletics, sharing insights on branding, entrepreneurship, leadership, and purpose-driven growth.
A magna cum laude graduate of UCLA with a B.A. in Art History, Erika brings a lifelong interest in art, visual culture, and the ways ideas are given form to more than two decades of work in brand strategy and creative direction. A former UCLA NCAA Division I women's soccer collegiate athlete, Erika remains actively involved with the university community through the UCLA Alumni Mentor Program, UCLA Startup Social Entrepreneurship Summer Program, and Bruin Women in Business, helping students and emerging leaders navigate their next chapter. Her commitment to advancing opportunities for women has also included service on the boards of the State of Women Institute and the Junior League of Orange County, as well as volunteer leadership with organizations supporting girls’ education, career development, and community impact.
In 2022, Erika founded Élanoura, a social enterprise that brings women leaders together from around the world for purpose, connection, and impact. Since its founding, Élanoura has welcomed women from 24 countries across four retreats in Morocco, Mallorca, and Greece. Through nonprofit partnerships and in-person volunteering, participants have supported educational opportunities for girls, services for women survivors of violence, and job skills training and wellness programs for women and girl refugees, with 10% of every retreat fee donated directly to local organizations.
Erika is currently based in Los Angeles enjoying life with her 17 year old daughter before she leaves to study creative writing at university in the UK.
THE LASTING MARK
METHOD
01 IDENTITY
Who you are
02 EXPRESSION
How you bring it into the world
03 IMPACT
The difference it makes
How I Help Leaders Build Meaningful Work
IDENTITY is the first step: understanding who you are, what you stand for, and what matters most to you. EXPRESSION is how you bring that into the world through your ideas, work, voice, and presence. IMPACT is what becomes possible when that expression connects with others, creates change, and contributes something meaningful beyond you. This is the foundation of The Lasting Mark Method, my framework built around four essential elements:
People — Who are you here to serve?
Purpose — Why does this work matter?
Positioning — How is your value unique?
Personality — How is your value authentic?
Together, they create the foundation for what becomes meaningful work, stronger relationships, intentional growth, and an impactful life.
kind words
FROM WOMEN FOUNDERS
“If you own a brand or are in charge of branding for a particular company, run don’t walk to Erika Brechtel. Nobody translates the look and feel of a brand digitally, better or more beautifully than she can."
Marisa Perry, Marisa Perry Atelier NYC
"This retreat was truly life changing. I felt my travel to be very purposeful since I was able to contribute to something much bigger than myself. I am so grateful to Erika for putting all of this together, with every detail intricately woven into the beauty of the retreat. It doesn’t matter what stage of business you are in, every woman leader needs a space like this. To feel empowered, comfortable, and unapologetic around other women that are free to do the same. The lifelong friendships I have made here will be taken with me forever. My mind is blown as I try to absorb every piece of valuable experience I got in such a short time. My body, mind, and soul are happy. Thank you Erika 💕"
Brianna Diaz, BriGainz
Dr. Andrea Matsumura, Sleep Physician
"I learned more about business in the Brand Building Foundations Course than 2 years of business classes!"
Lauren V., UCLA
"Erika took my dream and helped me turn in into reality! I could not have launched my brand without her. Everything from logo, brand voice, fonts, website design were all done in a collaborative, patient and supporting way. Erika knew how much presenting my brand to the world meant to me and it showed. I am forever grateful for having been introduced to her!"
Andrea Tello, Founder, mi|tu corazón
"From day one, Erika demonstrated professional unparalleled dedication and creativity in crafting a unique brand identity for my business. She truly understood my vision and goals, leveraging her 20+ years of expertise to develop a brand guide that resonates with my target audience. I couldn't be happier with the results and highly recommend her services to anyone looking to establish a strong and memorable brand presence from your website to social media to business cards and more… Erika, thank you for making SMK & Co’s brand exactly what envisioned."
Sheena Keo, SMK & Co.
"Thanks to the retreat, I found my group of trusted people and a space I can rely on. Although it was daunting at first to spend an entire week with strangers I only had one Zoom call with, throughout the week we got closer and closer to one another, started forming real relationships, which led to amazing discussions about work, life, and everything in between. I got to witness people breaking out of their comfort zones, realizing their worth, and finding clarity with the help of everyone in the group, and that's something I wish I can experience over and over again! And now, I'm grateful to have a group of people I can go to for help and know that we care for and love one another as friends."
Haeun Park, Made at Dawn
"Élanoura Global Founder's Retreat is an experience you don't want to miss. You are surrounded by the beautiful Moroccan desert, colorful fabrics and gold rimmed dishes everywhere but most importantly you are surrounded by savvy women business owners. Supporting each other by elevating our skills and making a difference in each others lives. Not only did I come back refreshed and renewed I came back with a full heart of gratitude. I made friends for life and am ready to elevate my business to the next level! Thank you Erika for creating such a beautiful foundation."
Elizabeth Hall, Eeze Natural Health
values
01 IMPACT
I support people who want to create meaningful value and positive change through their work.
02 INTEGRITY
I choose to work with people who believe in creating quality, and who are thoughtful with their impact on their families, employees, customers, and communities.
03 COLLABORATION
I build lasting relationships with people rooted in mutual trust. I am honored that they have come back again and again for new initiatives, partnerships, launches, and refreshes through the years.
04 ACCOUNTABILITY
I believe in transparency, honesty, kindness, respect, accountability, and delivering my best. And I choose to work with people who believe the same.
branding
speaking
impacting
