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
"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
"I enjoyed the whole trip! Every day had a lot to offer and was well balanced with workshops and activities. I loved not knowing all the details of the places we visited. To me it added more magic to the experience. Coming in not knowing any of the ladies made me a bit nervous at first. I believe Erika did an amazing job selecting the candidates. Everyone was amazing, kind, supportive and had a lot to offer in terms of business and personal experiences. The place we stayed at was perfect. It felt like home and the food was delicious. There was a great level of attention to detail that elevated the experience. I am so grateful to have been part of this and to all the amazing connections I made. I was looking forward to being part of the Project Soar volunteering opportunity and I think that was an important part of the retreat. Thank you!!"
Oula Siblini, OU LA
“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 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
"Erika works truly like a partner in the process of strategically thinking about a brand and its vision. When I work with her I feel like I am in the presence of a caring professor in marketing walking me through every step. I am always blown away by her wisdom, expertise, and genuine care for me to succeed as a woman business leader which is why I do sincerely see her as a partner. She is also so professional and reliable, which goes a long way for me! Erika is my go-to person for every project or idea I have had since 2009, there's no one like her!"
Jennet Chow, Jellypop Shoes & Evolution Design Lab
"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
“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
"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
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
