Twenty five years ago, Elia found herself leading her first team as a manager—she was only thirteen, but, in her employer’s defense, they thought she was fifteen. She rose to the challenge and has led successful teams in non-traditional industries ever since. From operating her own creative businesses for close to a decade to leading business operations at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, a nationally renowned art & music festival, and on to her role as Chief Operating Officer at Four Kitchens, Elia’s thirst for self-growth and commitment to creating a meaningful work experience for teams has continually expanded.

Her passion for empowering people to be their most authentic selves in the workplace has uniquely informed the culture at Four Kitchens. In 2015 she led their official shift to a remote workplace and, since then, has led strategic initiatives to align the business’s major functions and achieve key objectives.

Top achievements that Elia is proud to tout include being awarded the “Most Bubbly Personality” in 5th grade, and that one time a friend said her passport photo looked like Leslie Knope. A Native Texan, she calls South Austin home with her husband and son, and their tiny chihuahua-dachshund, Evie June, and cat, Kiki.