Career Coach for Women of Color
And Allies in Los Angeles
Career Coach
for Women of Color, People of Color and Allies
“Color Your Dreams®, Create Your Legacy.”
AS SEEN IN:
“Color Your Dreams®, Create Your Legacy.”
Hi! I’m Elaine Lou Cartas, a Career Coach from Los Angeles CA. I’m going to get real, my career journey hasn’t been a straight line, and maybe yours hasn’t either. I was a Director at 22, increased my salary by 36% and changed careers twice. I’ve also been there — I quit a job with no savings (not recommended), and even being let go when I didn’t expect it.
Through all of it, I’ve learned how to navigate challenges and create a career that works for me, 7 years later this is exactly what I’ve done for 11K+ clients in 58 different countries.
MSN awarded me as a top Leadership & Executive Coach in 2024, and LA Weekly awarded me as the #1 Thought Leader for my Conscious Conversations® framework. My career advice has been featured in Forbes, Money Magazine and LinkedIn News.
My leadership insights have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Money Magazine, Huffpost and MSN. In addition, I also have online courses with LinkedIn, Duke, Brown, John Hopkins, USC and 30+ more universities.
As a woman of color, I love giving back to my communities by providing an introductory 30-minute career coaching review session. During this session, we’ll:
- Identify your career goals, and create your individualized career path
- What’s working for you now and what’s not working for you
- Clarity to take the next step in your career to ensure it embodies your values and your unique definition of career success
Because here’s the truth: You have an identity beyond your job title***
“It was a space I can be free in. You [Elaine] saw me as a woman of color struggling for my footing. I walked away knowing that I’m not crazy and that there is help. Thank you for seeing me. It’s helped me get me to where I am at NOW.”
– Chéla Gage, Starbucks Global Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer
The Three Values We Focus On When it comes to your career and life, we will work together to create the legacy, leadership, and lifestyle you deserve. You can learn more about our values here.
Here’s how I can support you:
✨ Assertiveness & Advocacy: Be more assertive, improve communication, and advocate for yourself.
✨ Career Transitions: Successfully pivot career paths or change industries with high potential.
✨ Salary Negotiation: Get the strategy and skills to ask for what you’re worth
✨ Leadership & Career Development: Improve your leadership skills.
✨ Managing Up: Learn how to manage up respectfully and strategically.
✨ Team Leadership: Lead your team through periods of big transitions with clarity and confidence.
✨ Workplace Challenges: Address microaggressions and create an environment of respect and equity.
Together, we’ll align your career with your values, simplify your workload, and create sustainable systems for both professional success and personal growth.
Start with a complimentary 30-minute leadership coaching review session.
“Working with Elaine helped me get a new job where I doubled my income. She has also helped me become more assertive in the workplace. Elaine focuses on the systems that will make your business successful. Those systems have allowed for me to have 80% of my client renewals completed early.”
— Lindsey, Market Director
Why you should work with a woman of color/people of color career coach?
As a fellow woman of color, I understand the unspoken expectation to put other people first — to anticipate needs, smooth over challenges and create harmony for people around you. Society, culture and even family often cast us in the supporting role. Here’s the truth — you can step into the spotlight as the lead actress in your own life — both at work and home.
How am I different from other career coaches?
I’ve gone through what you’ve gone through:
How am I different from other leadership & executive coaches? (and how that helps YOU)
I am a proud first generation Filipino immigrant. I acknowledge the privilege I have because of all the generational sacrifices made before me. Here’s a pic of me with my dad, grandma, and a picture of my great-grandfather all who were grapevine workers that immigrated to Central California and a reminder of my roots and resilience.
I was a former grassroots organizer and political fundraiser.I have worked on local, state and federal campaigns. Here’s a pic of me in the Capitol at 22 when I helped a congressional member get elected.
I’ve faced workplace bullying, and learned how to stand up for myself. Here’s a pic of me at the first event I hosted June 2018 to help women of color and allies to put themselves first.
I negotiated a $12k raise for myself, and got my first $100k contract now I teach my clients to do the same when it comes to negotiation, boundaries and assertiveness.
I successfully pivoted industries, increasing my salary by $26k while raising $8.2 Million in Community College Scholarships
Running my coaching in Los Angeles for 7+ years. I’ve served 11k+ clients in 58 different countries, hosted 57 events and retreats, became a Trauma-Informed Coach, and Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation.I also have online courses with LinkedIn, Duke, Brown, John Hopkins, USC and 30+ more universities. And I want to check in with you
Are you asking yourself these questions:
Do I have work-life balance—or am I just having a “lunch date” with my laptop all the time? I use to be married to my laptop
Am I respected? I was able to advocate for a 36% salary raise in my 20s.
Am I pursuing a career that aligns with my values—or just doing what’s expected of me? I’ve successfully change industries 2x.
Curious about exploring for a promotion, seeking leadership positions or even changing industries? I’ve been able to get a promotion, make my own opportunity and change industries all before 30.
You don’t have to navigate these questions alone.
Do you want to know what’s possible for you if we work together?
Need some inspiration? Check out the testimonials below:
Conscious Conversations®
We use our Conscious Conversations® 6-prong approach to guide high-performing leaders and their teams to:
- Reduce burnout and foster happier, more productive teams
- Tailor solutions to each team member’s unique needs, ensuring goals are met with less stress
- Build accountability for leaders and their teams
Our approach centers on these pillars:
- Pause: Reflect on your communication and leadership style, drawing insights from past projects and interactions to uncover growth opportunities.
- Perspective(s): Gain clarity on others’ goals and leadership styles to improve communication and productivity.
- Priorities: Understand goals from all team members and stakeholders to ensure alignment and focus.
- Prepare: Strategize effectively for meetings, projects, and challenging situations.
- Perform: Execute in a leadership role confidence to lead impactful meetings and achieve outcomes.
- Passion: Remind yourself why you are passionate about your role, and the projects you are working on.
Imagine this:
- You and your team members confidently achieving their goals
- Leading transformational change where your team members trust the process, you, and each other
- Peace at work and your life
Conscious Conversations® equips leaders and teams with the tools to lead and foster thriving, engaged teams.
I want to implement conscious conversations
“I loved the 6-prong framework, I’ve leveraged it and plan to do so, as it’s easy to remember the 6-Ps organized around the visual of the heart. Passion at its core. I just had a real time conversation yesterday. I was part of a team that led a big networking event last week, and when I stepped in and around with the attendees, I owned the room!”
– Brenda Valley, Albertsons
Finance Officer
You got two ways to partner with us:
There are many types of coaching programs to choose from — cookie-cutter templates, rigid frameworks — but my coaching style and coaching conversation is both individualized and intentional.
My coaching program is selective, with no more than 15 active clients at any one time. This ensures a personalized and professional experience with results that matter.
Ready to stop doing the most and start focusing on what really matters? In a community of high achieving leaders who want a sustainable life, value-driven career and life, Together, we’ll:
- Managing up with confidence while building stronger relationships and leadership
- Enhancing your executive presence so you’re seen, respected and heard in every room
- Navigating possible career transitions whether it’s a dream job, industry or leadership role
- Advocating for yourself assertively and effectively to secure opportunities, promotions and raises
This 6-month mastermind includes eight 60-minute sessions with me, monthly office hours with me, and bi-weekly office hours with our dream team of coaches who specialize in marketing, operations, intuitive guidance and financial strategy.
1:1 Mentorship
Want me, Elaine, in your corner with exclusive, personalized career coaching in Los Angeles? You get a direct line with me to help you:
- Develop the skills to manage up and influence decision-makers with ease
- Build your executive presence so you can lead feeling confident and authentic
- Find a job or explore possible career paths, industries, or executive level opportunities while staying true to values
- Advocate for your worth in every interaction, from salary negotiations to high-level meetings
My one-to-one mentorship is tailored to your leadership goals with two 60-minute coaching sessions per month, and we can add coaching services from our dream team of coaches who specialize in marketing, operations, intuitive guidance and financial strategy.
Are you an organization looking for team coaching, facilitation or a speaker?
Email us at [email protected]
“I started to realize this is my purpose, this is what I am really meant to do.”
Schedule a call with me.
In 30 minutes, receive 3 action items toward your career goals.
FEATURED CAREER COACHING MEDIA ARTICLES
→ Want To Get The Raise You Deserve? Try These Three Tips
→ 5 Workplace Trends Job Hunters Need to Know Right Now, According to Career Experts
There’s a Color Your Dreams Podcast episode for everything!
→ Hear my brother’s story about changing careers and increasing your salary as a first generation immigrant.
→ Learn how to have a fulfilling job AND life with Mac Prichard.
→ Having a career identity crisis? Figure out how to realign your career to your life.
I’m excited to talk to you to see if it is a good fit to explore leadership coaching and individual coaching with me!
It doesn’t matter if you work for small businesses or corporate companies. I love supporting professional women of color and allies to achieve their full potential.
So are you ready to create an aligned career?
Schedule a call with me.
In 30 minutes, receive 3 action items toward your career goals.
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