Helping Foster Impactful Leaders through the Impact Lab
Elisa Summiel, owner of Illustrated Melanin, was able to tap into her unique skill set and grow her business after working with The Impact Lab.
How Elisa Summiel used her time in the Impact Lab to tap into her unique skill set and grow her business.
We love cheering on Impact Lab alumni who have become incredible leaders – and Elisa Summiel is one of our favorite examples! Elisa saw a lack of representation in the world of stationary products – so she decided to create a more inclusive collection through illustrations and affirmations for Black women.
Her business, Illustrated Melanin, features her art in the form of greeting cards, coloring books and privately commissioned works. Some of Elisa’s charitable work includes partnerships with GoFundMe through their Creators for Kindness initiative, DIVACup for their BIPOC Creator Fund, and the creation of printable coloring sheets for kids with Charnaie Gordon of Here Wee Read.
Elisa had the passion and skills, but still needed guidance on structuring the financial aspect of her business.
After Elisa began working with Mission Edge, our fractional CFO Carolynn Duncan was able to come alongside her to cut out unnecessary expenses, while gathering data to figure out what she needed to spend the most of her time and energy on.
Elisa and Carolynn worked together to gather data from the various pop-up markets to determine which ones were both profitable and gave her more exposure. Now, Elisa is better equipped to make those decisions for the future.
Not only did Elisa bolster her financial acumen through SAIL, but she also made strides in personal development.
Elisa took a personality test to determine her strengths and tap into the power of a quieter leadership style. The strides made in both financial and personal growth combine for a powerful 1-2 punch that she will be able to carry into the future of her business.
“There are highs and lows to this lifestyle and 2022, my second year as a solopreneur, has probably been my toughest year yet,” Elisa wrote in a LinkedIn post for National Entrepreneurship Day earlier in November. “It’s hard, but the reward I get through being able to create something that represents who I am while spreading joy to others makes this all worth it.”
You can find out more about Elisa and her work at https://illustratedmelanin.com or on Instagram @illustratedmelanin.
Are you interested in learning more about how the Impact Lab could help build sustainability and structure into your business in 2023? Applications for our next cohort just opened up. We’re excited to meet you and help make your dreams a reality!
See how Impact Lab could help you gain financial clarity for your business in 2023
Applications for our next cohort recently opened!
