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

"Erika has an amazing ability to see the truth of who you are and reflect it back with clarity and real purpose. She helped me articulate and bring to life not just my business, but my values, philosophy, and the WHY behind the work. I couldn’t be more grateful for her guidance and presence in this process. What a gift, she is absolutely the best!"

Dr. Masi Reynolds, Masi Clinic

"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

"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

"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

"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 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.

"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.

Make your mark, make it matter.