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
"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, Citizen Atelier
"I’ve worked with Erika for over 10 years with three different companies and across 9 brands. She has an amazing intuitive understanding of how to design for different customer segments and across different industries that is really hard to find in other designers and brand consultants. She’s a joy to work with."
Tiffany Wong, Million Dollar Baby
"I learned more about business in the Brand Building Foundations Course than 2 years of business classes!"
Lauren V., UCLA
"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
"The Brand Building Foundations course turned my business from HP to Apple. Not only did I gain clarity on my brand and purpose, I learned how I can visually and emotionally incorporate my purpose in my brand. Everything I had in my heart, I was able to find a place to showcase it through my entire brand. This was truly more than just a course — it was a guided experience that made me feel like I had a business partner going through this with me together. And that sense of support is something you cannot compare to anything else. Thank you so much Erika for creating such an amazing experience!"
Hae P., San Jose CA
"I have to tell you, I was always dying to come back and learn more even with having a 7 month old and an ever growing TO DO list. Your passion and knowledge kept pulling me back. I am truly so grateful and will recommend this course to anyone I know wanting to start something new. I feel so energized and excited for what is to come. I am so grateful for all the work and dedication you put into it because out of everything I have done to get prepared to launch my own business, I have to say this course gave me so much joy and excitement and it will have a lasting impact on me."
Maria M., Dallas TX
"In the past six months, I have invested in countless online classes and programs. The Branding Masterclass was quite simply the most effective experience I have had – and that is exactly why: because it is an experience. This class is not simply a tool; it reaches far beyond strategies and tactics (which of course are phenomenal with an expert leader like Erika). Erika, I can’t thank you enough for the energy and wisdom you are sharing – you are literally changing lives."
Maris D., Columbus OH
"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
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
