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 two decades helping founders, physicians, entrepreneurs, and women leaders transform ideas into meaningful work and lasting impact.
Her career has been defined by a common thread: helping people bring their vision to life with greater clarity, purpose, and intention. Since 2002, that work has included strategic advisory, brand development, speaking, mentoring, angel investing in women-led companies, nonprofit leadership, and social entrepreneurship. Through her consulting practice, she has advised leaders across healthcare, wellness, consumer products, professional services, and social impact, helping them build brands, businesses, programs, and platforms that reflect who they are 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 and former NCAA Division I 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
“Working with Erika is unlike any branding experience I’ve had before - she doesn’t just design a beautiful brand, she uncovers who you actually are and builds everything from there. Through her method, I clarified my long-term vision, identified my ideal audience, and finally felt like my brand tells the true story of my work. After more than thirty years of knowing her, I can say without hesitation: she has a rare gift for helping women discover what they didn’t even know they had in them.”
Dr. Nancy Yen Shipley, Form & Function Orthopedics
"Working with Erika was an absolutely transformative experience, both personally and professionally. She took me through everything from getting clear on my brand mission, to identifying my brand personality and legacy. I learned a wide wealth of knowledge that has completely transformed how I view my business and has invigorated my passion and commitment to my greater WHY. Thank you Erika from the bottom of my heart!
Alessandra Salituri, Founder & CEO, Citizen Atelier, Montreal
"Erika’s extremely organized and meticulous approach to learning about us and our brand on a small to large scale has been a wonderful and organic experience. She really took the time to understand who we are on a personal and brand level. She never rushed the process but provided guidance, support and clarity when we needed it the most. We couldn’t be happier!"
Seda Bilginer & Amanda Sichon, Esas Beauty
"I was recommended to Erika by a friend who had consulted with her and said she was 'simply the best', without a doubt no truer words have ever been spoken. Erika invests far more time into the why, who and how of what makes YOU you than anyone else in her business sector. There were so many moments over our 6 months working together that I was moved beyond words at her ability to see me and my vision and bring it to life through design. Without a doubt, Erika is the asset of a lifetime to build a company, a brand and a business to span lifetimes."
Jessica Gylsen, The Dazzling Concierge
“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
"I’ve admired Erika and her work for YEARS and am now lucky enough to know her personally and work with her professionally. She is one of the most talented, creative, inspiring, and hard-working women."
Kat Tanita, With Love From Kat
"Erika helped me determine my WHY, worked with me to develop a cohesive plan, got me to focus on my ideal customer; my vision grew from there and she created a design that was perfect for me and aligned with my goals."
Monica Shulman, Artist
"Traveling with the Élanoura Founder Retreat was truly a life changing experience. The trip from start to finish was curated so beautifully, from the moment we got there. Wow! This trip has opened up my eyes to world travel, to the importance of connection with other woman in a way I never knew was possible. Seeing life beyond the walls of the small town I live in and the experiences I’ve had in my life so far… I want more! Morocco was literally a DREAM come true. Thank you Erika for curating this magical experience, I am flooded with gratitude."
Emily Mughannam, Fletcher Rhodes Interior Design
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.
consulting
speaking
impacting
