Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Yearly.
Hi Elena, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story started decades ago in South Philadelphia and has been a journey ever since. I was always inspired to chart my own course. My mom would use the expression “just do it” before it became famous as the Nike motto. She was an immigrant from Italy and was the most inspirational person I have ever known. Her goal in life was to marry what she would call her “prince” and she achieved that when she met my father three years after coming to the U.S. She told me as a child to keep pursuing my dreams wherever those took me. My mom was a seamstress who set up her own home-based business, an entrepreneur in her own little way. My story is in part her story. I’ve lived in various areas of the country and after working in banking, healthcare and for a Big Four, I pivoted to find my own way and develop consulting and coaching practice. Never did I imagine that I would be a successful entrepreneur and business owner. Now my firm, that has grown organically, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary this coming December. Thanks, Mom, for encouraging me to pursue my dreams!
The pandemic was a huge pivot point for me, how I approach my life and my business. The huge challenge in the form of the pandemic actually inspired an unusual opportunity in, of all things, jigsaw puzzles. You may ask what jigsaw puzzles have to do with a consulting business?! Well, I uncovered my love for jigsaw puzzles in February 2020. I was vacationing in Florida and my friend had a partially completed Victorian scene jigsaw puzzle on her table. I had not worked on a jigsaw puzzle in years and then could not let it go. The pandemic hit one month later, and I was hooked! Then a revelation. Doing these allowed me to come to realize that I actually connect dots for a living! While working on jigsaw puzzles, it turned on its head my ability to strategically plan – me, my life and business. I think and strategize while doing a jigsaw puzzle. Now I am on my 20th puzzle since 2020. Each one is different…just as we are different, where we are headed as leaders and where our respective businesses are headed. Just as I am connecting the dots so to speak with puzzle pieces, that is what I do with my clients. It applies to everyone I come across and what I do in working with them. I am connecting dots as I help organizations of all sizes regardless of the industry with their own challenges whether through working with them as a coach or consultant on building their strategic plans or conducting an audit or risk assessment or helping them figure out what is getting in the way or pursuing their own goals. It applies as I work with companies to improve their processes. It applies as I evaluate where a business is today to arrive at a future state that makes sense for them. Who knew the power of jigsaw puzzling!
My story does not conclude here. I enjoy the personal challenge of taking on more, at times, than seems possible to do. For instance, one of my team members asked if I have 40 hours in each day.! I am beyond the epitome of organized and can be beeline focused. I accomplish a great deal daily. I get up at 4:30 each a.m. excited about the day ahead. I read a chapter of 1 or more non-fiction books daily, am a speaker and trainer, am a closet nutritionist, love to exercise and decided recently that I wanted to learn what it takes to design better interiors, so I started taking online classes from accomplished interior designers in the U.K. I love the international experience and have traveled extensively. And, despite what people think, I do sleep for exactly 7.5 hours each night. :0)
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a business is not for the faint of heart. It can be really difficult and deeply discouraging at times. What is important to realize is that I am, among other things, a risk management expert and then I took the ultimate risk: started a consulting firm 10 years ago unsure of where the next paycheck was going to come from. I put forth so much sweat equity. Now I could not see myself doing anything else. I have an inner motivation to succeed. Even when the chips are down, I pivot. I take advantage of operational, internal, and external challenges and consider these as learning opportunities. Do I worry? Absolutely. Have I had moments where I say to myself – am I crazy for doing this? Absolutely. Yet, I have never looked back and power through, no matter what.
I was told at one time by a very large consulting firm that they were afraid of my firm – a global firm concerned about my woman-owned small business! The reason: because they knew the quality of our work and with me at the helm. This person had witnessed first-hand when we worked together my work ethic and how we treat our clients. Yes, we compete with very large entities. In fact, in 2021, we beat out 11 other firms for a consulting engagement. Our goal is to be determined to overcome obstacles that others perceive or directly put in the way.
2023 has turned into a year of continued positive growth as well as transition. We are balancing our consulting work with greater opportunity to enhance the coaching, training, and speaking side of the business. This is also through my wonderful Chief Operating Officer (who is my husband), who steers the ship of this business that we run together. I am able to continue to turn many “lemons into lemonade”, adjust my life and business where needed and see the light to a better future – both personally and business-wise.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about EMY Consulting?
My firm, EMY Consulting LLC, is a professional services management consulting firm based in Virginia. EMY is third-party certified by WBENC as a woman-owned small business. The firm offers expert specialists in three primary areas: financial management (i.e., auditing, budgeting, accounting, risk management, grants management and compliance), operations process improvement and training. For instance, if you are looking for shorter-term solutions with a coach by your side, we are here for you. If you need an external set of eyes to see where you are today, we provide tailored “as is” evaluations of business operations to identify gaps. We work with you to determine how to best implement through individualized roadmaps to get you from here to there. We have worked with the private sector and the public sector here in the U.S. and globally. Our website showcases the numerous clients we have worked with over the years who value our expertise and attention to quality. We have appreciated the opportunity to work closely with clients in California, including L.A., Sacramento, and Oakland. EMY leadership brings more than 30 years of experience in consulting, coaching, speaking, and training.
My firm’s tagline is “consulting with you in mind” and we live this tagline every single day. Take a look at our website. On the home page are several red and blue marbles and then there is a green marble at the forefront. There is a message here. The green marble is each and every one of you and displays your uniqueness. We seek to work with those of you who desire an external partner who provides tailored and unique “connect the dots” types of solutions. You are the green marble! We encourage fellow business owners to reach out to us to tell us about their own success stories and what challenges are getting in the way that we could help them overcome. Each challenge is truly an opportunity to connect the dots. We currently are writing a series of articles for publication on business success stories and the challenges they face. If you are interested in being featured, please contact me.
We are also concurrently starting a podcast in the near future titled Challenge Inspires Opportunity. and are currently seeking guest speakers for the podcast. As EMY continues to evolve, we are building out the keynote speaking and training side of our business with an emphasis on overcoming challenges, dot connection and the strategic power of jigsaw puzzling. Please reach out to me if you are interested in being featured on our podcast.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Essential qualities come in many forms from my perspective. There is not just one quality for success. To name a few, it is a combination of the following that are shown here. Be open to change and develop the ability to pivot at a moment’s notice. Think quickly on your feet and grasp and embrace ideas and concepts as they will change at the blink of an eye. See the here and now while concurrently thinking in a strategic fashion (future-focused). Adopt a self-deprecating humor and don’t take yourselves so seriously all the time. Put yourself in the shoes of others. Inspire those around you to do well and give back by mentoring individuals and your fellow woman-owned businesses. And finally, but by no means least, enjoy the opportunity to be unique like I have, breathe, and consider every day a gift! These are all essential qualities that I feel have made me successful in business and in life. Thank you for taking the time to read the EMY story! I look forward to hearing from you.
Pricing:
- Training – $1000/day – varies by engagement.
- Speaking – $1000-$3500 – depends on request.
- Facilitation – $500+ – depends on request.
- Keynote speaking – $1500-$4000.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emyconsulting.biz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenayearly/
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
The marbles, company logo – those belong to EMY Consulting and are on my firm’s website. The puzzle came from Springbok, a puzzle company.
