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Erika Brechtel

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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.

HOW I DO IT

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

"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.

"I learned more about business in the Brand Building Foundations Course than 2 years of business classes!"

Lauren V., UCLA

"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

"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 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.

"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

"Right people, right place, right time. What (I didn't know) I needed was the space to step back from the frenetic pace of life and have a chance to redefine my goals and reconnect with my authentic self. The Global Founder's Retreat was just that. I left the trip feeling energized, inspired, and so grateful to have been with this group, on this trip."

Heather Kosiek, Launch Studio

"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 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.

FORBES
HOW THIS FOUNDER IS USING GLOBAL TRAVEL TO ELEVATE WOMEN
THRIVE GLOBAL
ERIKA BRECHTEL ON HOW WE NEED TO ADJUST TO THE FUTURE OF WORK
HELLO GIGGLES
3 REASONS WHY YOU SELF-SABOTAGE YOUR OWN SUCCESS, EXPERT SAYS

consulting

WORK ONE-ON-ONE
WITH ERIKA

speaking

LEARN AND GROW
YOUR BRAND

impacting

JOIN WOMEN FOUNDERS
AROUND THE WORLD

Make your mark, make it matter.

CONNECT WITH ERIKA

Make the next move.

Your next action steps:

  • Contact Erika for her one-on-one brand consulting services
  • Join the Élanoura collective to get invited to the Global Founder's Retreats.
  • Connect with Erika on LinkedIn or Instagram.

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