Ellesse Balli, 38
CEO | Declarative
Who inspires you?
Any of my achievements are the direct result of my mentors. There are far too many individuals to list, but today, I am particularly grateful to my former colleague Courtney McBeth, who pulled me aside seven years ago, put her hands on my shoulders and told me it was time to “lean into leadership.” Courtney is now serving as the chief academic officer and provost at Western Governors University and is a daily inspiration for impactful leadership.
What challenges have you overcome to get here today?
We founded Declarative in the middle of COVID-19! Thank goodness for my husband, who somehow juggled running our production company, Moniker Media, while simultaneously wrangling our kindergartener and toddler to engage with their online classes. Every day was magical mayhem.
