Almost four years ago, I started my journey as an entrepreneur.
At the starting line of that race, I took a pledge that:
I would bring my whole self into every room I stepped into
I would lead with love, authenticity and kindness
I would demonstrate to the world that you could be profitable and good for your community at the same time.
Elan Strategies Origin
My catalyst for entrepreneurship came the day Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 Presidential election. I realized if I wanted to see a change in the world, it would be up to me to make it happen.
At the time, I was working as a fundraiser in a male-dominated environment. Regardless of how much revenue I brought in or how much value I added to the organization, I was not going to be rightly recognized for my work because of the rampant sexism that was ingrained in the company.
This normalization of sexism and misogyny that was occurring in the United States both in business and politics, was my impetus to create the world I wanted to live in. The day after the election, I decided to quit my job, take time to rest and recover, and build the future I wanted to see.
When I started my firm, I was unapologetically female from my branding to my advisers, to the people I hired, to the culture I created. I was focused on creating a company that trained, invested, and hired women in development and fundraising.
I will always be thankful to Dennis Gonzalez, Jessica Reeves, and Maria Teresa Kumar from Voto Latino and Carmen Castillo from SDI International for taking a chance on my small and mighty firm. These clients made my company a real business generating revenue.
Then to Now
In that time, I have made my wildest dreams come true... Living and working in Mexico, Peru, and Paraguay.
I have challenged myself in ways I didn’t think were possible
AND I have fallen (hard) and found the strength to get back up
Today, I share that we will be closing Elan Strategies at the end of the month to start a new chapter. As I write this blog, my eyes swell with tears of gratitude for all of the people that advocated for our company to win, for those for invested in my success, and for who challenged me to grow.
I am infinitely grateful to my team, especially Kevin Hurtado, our clients, our corporate partners, my mentors, and advocated. Thank you for believing in this dream.
My Proud
Mama Bear Accomplishments
We trained, invested, and hired a diverse team comprised of women and people of color
We raised millions of dollars for organizations that are changing the trajectory of our country
We worked with top corporations and impacted their corporate strategy
We were recognized for our work by the Tory Burch Foundation, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Inner City Capital Connections, and more
We used our platform to address the funding disparities impacting women and minority-owned businesses at numerous speaking engagements
Harvard Business School “We got the Power” Panel with top female investor to discuss funding disparities that exist for women owned businesses.
Entrepreneurship runs deep in my blood from witnessing my mother, an undocumented immigrant sell gold and perfumes from her car to feed our family, to starting her own mortgage and construction companies and creating dozens of jobs in my community of South Texas, to fighting for the 4.2 million Hispanic owned businesses in the US during my time at the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and to opening my own firm.
I’ve seen the power that business can have communities and I know that this just a nos vemos pronto – I’ll see you later and not a goodbye.
Con mucho cariño y amor,
Michelle Dhansinghani
Founder & CEO
Elan Strategies
956-225-7176