We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ellie Nieves. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Ellie, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
One thing that’s been bringing me a lot of joy lately is working on home projects with my husband.
We built our home in Florida in 2021, but because we spent so much time super-commuting back to New York, it took a while for it to truly feel like home. Lately, though, we’ve been slowing down and enjoying the process of making the space our own—and that has been incredibly meaningful.
Whether we’re picking out patio furniture, adding window treatments, or figuring out closet solutions, each project feels like a small act of love. With every decision, we’re putting our personal touch on the house and creating a space that reflects who we are. There’s a deep sense of joy in that—building something together and creating a sacred, welcoming place we’re proud to call home.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ellie Nieves, the founder of Leadership Strategies for Women, LLC, a leadership development company focused on helping women develop executive presence, cultivate influence, and lead with confidence.
Through Leadership Strategies for Women, I design and deliver seminars and webinars for organizations that are truly committed to investing in their women leaders. My signature offering is the Women’s Leadership Institute—a live, two-day leadership intensive that organizations bring in-house to support the growth of emerging and mid-level women leaders. The experience is practical, engaging, and transformative, helping women strengthen their voice, build credibility, and show up with confidence in the rooms that matter most.
I’m also the founder of the Christian Career Women Network, a membership community for women of faith who want to grow together, build sisterhood, and advance in their careers without compromising their values. Our members experience real transformation—they gain clarity, confidence, and discernment as they learn to integrate Biblical principles into their professional lives. We gather monthly via Zoom for career-focused Bible studies and meaningful connection, creating a supportive space where women are encouraged, equipped, and reminded that they don’t have to navigate their careers alone.
At the heart of everything I do is a passion for helping women trust themselves, find their voice, and lead in a way that feels aligned with who they are and the life they want to build.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that my circumstances dictated my life experience.
I grew up in a single-parent home, and times were tough. My mom worked incredibly hard to provide for me, but there were days when putting food on the table was difficult. I was raised in a New York City neighborhood that was often defined by negative statistics rather than by its successes. Growing up with so much uncertainty can shape how you see the world, and for a long time, it led me to believe that my circumstances would determine my future. I developed limiting beliefs and, at times, a scarcity mindset that I carried with me into adulthood.
I no longer believe that. Today, I believe that with God at the center of my life, I can find light even in dark moments and trust that He is directing my steps. That belief has changed everything. It allows me to step forward with confidence, take new risks, lean into discomfort, and learn from my mistakes. I’m no longer afraid to pivot when something isn’t working, because I trust that God has my back and is guiding me toward what’s next.
That shift—from being shaped by scarcity to being grounded in faith—has given me both freedom and courage, and it continues to influence how I live, lead, and serve others.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that strength, resilience, and compassion are forged in ways success never could.
No one wants to suffer. It is painful, uncomfortable, and often unfair. But when I look back on my life, the moments that shaped my character most deeply came through seasons of suffering, not success. One of the most defining experiences was my battle with breast cancer. I endured 14 months of chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments, each bringing its own physical and emotional pain.
That season changed me. It gave me a depth of compassion I did not have before, especially for people facing critical illnesses and prolonged hardship. I learned what it truly means to persevere, to keep showing up even when you are exhausted, afraid, or uncertain. I also discovered a level of resilience and inner strength I did not know I possessed.
Most importantly, suffering deepened my faith. It taught me how to trust God in the midst of uncertainty, not just when outcomes are clear or comfortable. That kind of faith, the kind that presses forward without guarantees, is something success alone could never teach me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am deeply committed to advancing women in the workplace, no matter how long it takes.
This has been my mission since 2010, when I launched Leadership Strategies for Women, LLC. Over the years, I’ve seen moments of progress followed by periods where it feels like we’ve slipped backward. That reality is reflected in the Women in the Workplace studies published by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org, which began in 2015. Year after year, the research has shown that progress for women, especially at the leadership level, remains slow. Women continue to be underrepresented as they move up the corporate ladder, with the “broken rung” at the first step into management consistently cited as a major barrier. The data also shows that women of color face even steeper challenges, with compounded gaps in opportunity and advancement.
Despite that, or perhaps because of it, I remain committed.
One way I’ve doubled down on that commitment is by reframing one of my core initiatives, the Women’s Leadership Institute. I originally launched it as a self-paced online learning platform for women leaders. But after spending a year developing and delivering live leadership intensives with a handful of client organizations, I saw something powerful happen. When companies intentionally bring women together in a focused, immersive environment, the impact is transformative.
As a result, I repositioned the Women’s Leadership Institute as a signature offering where I partner directly with organizations to design and deliver custom, two-day leadership intensives for their women leaders. These experiences create space for women to build confidence, strengthen their voice, and step into leadership with clarity and conviction, while also signaling that their organization is serious about investing in their growth.
Advancing women at work is long-term work. It requires persistence, adaptability, and belief, even when progress feels incremental. I’m committed to staying in it for the long haul, because the work still matters and the impact is real.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in the early moments of the day, before the world fully wakes up.
That quiet time with my Bible, my journal, and a cup of matcha is sacred to me. It’s when I slow down, read Scripture, reflect on life, and seek God’s wisdom without distraction. Watching the sun rise during those moments reminds me to begin the day grounded, centered, and open to whatever lies ahead.
Those early mornings give me clarity and calm. They set the tone for my day and help me move forward with intention, faith, and peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellienieves.com/
- Instagram: https://www..Instagram.com/LeadershipStrategiesForWomen
- Linkedin: https://www.Linkedin.com/in/ellienieves
- Facebook: https://www..Facebook.com/LeadershipStrategiesForWomen
Image Credits
FemForce Orlando; RTW Photography, SarahH, Damary Bonilla, Latinas & Power
