ABOUT ERIKA BRECHTEL
Global social entrepreneur, startup consultant & brand builder for women leaders
My purpose is clear: elevating women globally. It's thread through every aspect of my business and life, from one-on-one work and educational content for women leaders, to speaking and facilitating for female audiences and organizations, and founding my social entrepreneurship endeavor Élanoura — all to spread positive impact through the world with women leading the way.
bio
Erika Brechtel is an L.A.-based startup consultant, brand builder, strategist and designer for women leaders, speaker and facilitator, women's rights advocate, angel investor in women, and global social entrepreneur empowering women founders to build positive impact since 2002. Erika has been featured in Forbes, Thrive Global, SELF Magazine, LUXE Magazine, HuffPost, Popsugar, and on the cover of OC Family Magazine, and she speaks and facilitates workshops for organizations such as UCLA Anderson School of Management, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, UCLA Alumni, Junior League, Fabletics, and Bumble Bizz.
Erika originally hails from the North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii and is the great granddaughter of picture brides from Japan. While at UCLA where she earned a magna cum laude degree in Art History, she was a collegiate athlete on the first NCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer team created out of Title IX action by the players. Since, giving back to her community and advocating for women’s rights has been a fundamental part of her life, volunteering for organizations such as the UCLA Watts Tutorial Program, L.A. Works, NYC’s Lower East Side Girls Club, Young Women’s Career Conference, UCLA Alumni Mentor Program, currently on The State of Women Institute board, and twice on the Junior League of Orange County, California (JLOCC) board, training and developing women leaders in the community.
Since 2002 through consulting, she leads clients through foundational work to establish full branding systems that set a business on track to purposefully and intentionally make their mark, and make it matter.
In 2019, Erika introduced her Branding Masterclass tour, visiting cities across the U.S. to help women in business learn how to strategically and intentionally build and activate their business, executive, or personal brands. In 2021, Erika launched her extensive multi-module Brand Building Foundations online course and her "Intentional Branding" method to help women founders build impactful businesses.
In 2022, Erika founded Élanoura, Inc. a social entrepreneurship initiative to enlighten, engage, and empower women leaders to create positive change with their businesses. Featured in Forbes, the #travelwithimpact Global Founder’s Retreats to Morocco, Mallorca, and Greece bring women founders together from around the world for purpose, connection, and impact. 10% of fees are donated to a nonprofit partner where the retreat cohort also volunteers in person: in Morocco, with teen girls facing child marriage through Project Soar; in Mallorca, with women survivors of violence through Fundació IRES; and in Greece, two opportunities with women and girl refugees through ANKAA Project and Yoga and Sport with Refugees.
Erika currently lives in Los Angeles with her 15 year old daughter who inspires her everyday with her kind heart and warm soul.
THE 4 P’S
PEOPLE
PURPOSE
POSITIONING
PERSONALITY
Build a brand legacy that matters.
Your brand is so much more than a logo, some colors, fonts, and a few pretty social posts. Your brand is the impact that you leave on every person who comes into contact with what you put out into the world. Do you know at this moment what that impact is? You have the power to take control of it now and shape it into a legacy that you can be proud to leave behind. We start with the 4 Ps -- your People, Purpose, Positioning and Personality -- as the foundation for everything you create from here on out. Then set your intentions, build out your initiatives, make your impressions, and build a lasting, positive impact only you can create.
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
"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've finished the course, and wow! Thank you for doing what you do! I feel so much more confident going into this phase of my life where I want to build a brand/true business for myself as a writer. It's like you've helped to lift a fog, and now I can see more clearly the steps I need to take next as well as the goals I'd like to achieve as I progress. When I find myself stressing about the state of entrepreneurship, business, or gender inequality in our world today, I'm comforted knowing people like you are working to create a healthier, happier, and fairer environment in which women can thrive and achieve their dreams."
Adrianna N., Phoenix AZ
"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
"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
"I went on this trip thinking it was a business trip with the hope of maybe making at least one friend, but what actually ended up happening was I met 9 lifelong friends that I happened to discuss business with. I will be forever grateful to Erika as she curated a group that included such diverse women whom all I could relate to in one way or another and I look forward to watching them all grow and succeed not only in business but their personal life. Anyone would be crazy NOT to attend something Erika puts together."
Sheena Keo, SMK & CO.
"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
"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
values
01 IMPACT
I support good people who want to spread positivity in the world with the ideas, products, and services only they can uniquely provide.
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 brands, 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.