Small-Town Dreamer to

Entrepreneurial

Trailblazer

Ellen Long Image

It’s 2012, and at the age of 23, I find myself in a room filled with angel investors and venture capitalists ready to hear startup pitches. I have no money and no real expertise, but somehow I make it into the room. A man leans over to me and whispers in honest confusion, “How did you get here?" A valid inquiry indeed. How did a young, not-yet-wealthy woman from a tiny, two-stoplights town in California end up not only seated at boardroom tables but also offering consultation?

About Ellen Mobile Image

Much of my childhood was spent zipping through packing sheds, eavesdropping on business owners’ discussions, and witnessing the inner workings of expansive enterprises. You see, my father was the go-to lawyer and wealth manager for entrepreneurs all across the Central Valley of California. At the age of eight, I started accompanying him on his work-related journeys, and by ten, I was cleaning his office. By thirteen my path was crystal clear—I was going to be a business consultant. I wanted to support the visionaries I encountered—those crafting their destinies, tackling challenges, and leaving their mark. Their fervor ignited a flame within me to live bigger, shine brighter, and change the world.

I graduated from college a semester ahead, embarked on an impromptu three-month adventure in Israel, and spontaneously worked as a whitewater rafting guide. While I reveled in floating down the river, my heart yearned to chart a course toward my dream career.

My destination? Wilmington, North Carolina—an up-and-coming community for entrepreneurs.

It doesn’t take me long to cross paths with a real estate business owner named Stephanie Lanier, a presence of considerable influence in Wilmington. I approach her, awed by her ubiquity, and ask, “How did you become such an icon?” Stephanie replies, “Let’s have lunch.” Over that lunch, she unveils her secret: A business mentor had mapped out a plan to make her name known to everyone in three years. She looks at me and says, “Would you like to do it?” Without hesitation, I respond, “Absolutely!” Stephanie snaps a photo and declares, “This is the moment you decided to be unforgettable.” She shares the roadmap, which I diligently follow, and it bears fruit.

Between 2010 and 2012, I deliver a TEDx talk, mentor at Tek Mountain, join Leadership Wilmington, co-found the Women in Tech group, and even earn the "Rising Star in Wilmington" award. Within two years, every entrepreneur in Wilmington knows my name, opening countless doors.

During those transformative years, I earned my MBA and ventured into marketing for a business consultancy. It was a juncture that demanded a decision: Should I climb the corporate ladder at a prestigious firm like McKinsey, or should I accept my father's invitation to become his partner in his consultancy firm? The latter was an offer I had resisted, determined to forge my unique path.

Ellen Image

Soon after, I find myself on a porch swing seeking guidance from my mentors—three venture capitalists—and I receive unanimous encouragement to collaborate with my father, despite the initial setback of starting from the bottom and supporting his endeavors. They assure me, “You’ll have more opportunities at the client’s table with your dad than anywhere else.”

Thus, in 2013, I joined forces with my father in our firm, specializing in empowering entrepreneurs to maximize their businesses for profitable outcomes. Here, I am finally aligned with my hero’s calling, the one that had beckoned and never wavered my entire life.

My aspiration is for everyone to live a life in alignment with their deepest desires and dreams. Entrepreneurship, in particular, captivates me because of its profound ripple effect on the world. It may start with the entrepreneur, but its impact touches the lives of every person it reaches, from employees to customers and beyond, igniting positive change on the grandest of scales.