Elise Lindborg & Kelli Henderson - Founder of Brand Pride | Pride In A Box
Elise Lindborg & Kelli Henderson
Founders of Brand Pride | Pride In A Box
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Based in Seattle and Las Vegas, Brand|Pride is a nationally certified woman-owned, LGBTQ supplier, that helps companies market their business through the creative use of branded merchandise. Brand|Pride was the 2013 National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Supplier of the Year, the 2016 Greater Seattle Business Associations Business of the Year, and named one of the largest LGBTQ businesses in the Puget Sound in 2016 and 2021! Brand|Pride has been in business since 2000.
About Elise & Kelli
Prior to starting Brand|Pride, Elise was the United States National Rowing Team Manager from 1987 to 1996. She was responsible for all training, travel, drug testing, and competition logistics for Olympic, Pan Am, World University, and National Team activities. Elise culminated her career in amateur sports by managing the 1996 U.S. Olympic Rowing Team. Elise is married to Kelli Henderson – the co-owner of Brand|Pride. They celebrated their 30th anniversary in March 2021!
Born and raised in Missoula, Montana, Elise is a scandihoovian mutt with equal parts of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Finnish. Elise holds a B.F.A. and a K-12 Teaching Certificate from Pacific Lutheran University and has a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from the University of Washington. Elise has also attended the Tuck Executive Education Minority Business Program at Dartmouth College.
COO and Account Executive, Kelli has nearly 30 years of production, operations, and management experience. She has worked in fields such as advertising, printing, newspaper production and operations, IT support, and branded merchandise.
Kelli’s born and bred in Indiana with a B.A. in Industrial Design and a Minor in Graphic Design, from Purdue University. In addition, she has a Graduate Certificate from the University of Washington, Foster School of Business.
She is a natural leader with a focus on efficient operations, quality assurance, and client services. She is the BMS’s Account Executive and one-half of the power couple that spearheads Brand|Pride.
Favorite motto or quote that keeps you inspired?
Be patiently persistent. Never give up.
How do you hope that your company can create a better world?
To help create economic inclusion for LGBT businesses.
In your personal life, what is one daily practice or habit you have to keep you centered and grounded?
Daily laughs with my wife.
Who or what was the biggest motivator for you when you started your business?
Not working for anyone other than myself.
What is one piece of advice you would give to early-stage founders?
Invest in a good graphic designer and copywriter. You need to spend money to make money.
What has been the biggest highlight in running your own company?
Being my own boss. Setting my own rules and taking my own risks.
Your favorite other women-led businesses we should know about?
Laura Spaulding of Spaulding Deacon
What is one action you want every woman entrepreneur reading this to take this week?
Stretch for 15 minutes every morning!
What are your top three goals for your company this year? AND! How can the LWL Community support you in accomplishing them?
Bring on 15 new Fortune 500 companies by the end of 2021.
Rent out our Seattle office.
Relaunch Pride in a Box in October 2021 with a new plan and better marketing.