We’re looking forward to introducing you to Elise Jenkins. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Elise, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are about setting the tone and getting the most important things moving. Usually that means myself, my family, and our pets getting up and at ’em. I start by scanning my calendar and emails before my kiddos wake up so I know exactly what’s ahead and can flag anything urgent. After lunches/breakfasts are made and the kids are getting dressed, I check in on our team or any time-sensitive needs for our residents so nothing falls through the cracks. Once the littles are at school, I grab my second cup of coffee, and start on one or two priority tasks that require the most focus — whether that’s a donor follow-up, chatting with a potential resident, or planning for an event. I try to tackle the high-impact work before I get pulled into the reactive part of the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Elise, the Executive Director of Ella’s House in Nashville. We support pregnant and parenting college students with housing, resources, and community so they can stay in school and build stable futures for themselves and their children. What makes us unique is that we’re filling a gap that’s often overlooked. Our goal is to provide holistic, extremely personalized care to our scholars so they’re equipped to succeed at school and in motherhood. My background combines nonprofit leadership with a commitment to breaking down barriers for women, and right now we’re focused on expanding our reach so more student moms feel supported to achieve their goals.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks bonds between people is usually unmet expectations and a lack of honest communication. When trust erodes, even in small ways, it chips away at the relationship over time. At Ella’s House we see how isolation, stress, and misunderstanding can push people apart. What restores those bonds is time, consistency, and a willingness to really listen and change. It is not quick or easy, but showing up over and over again with empathy and follow through is what rebuilds trust and connection.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I never saw pain as something to hide. Being diagnosed with Leukemia at 11 and later navigating an unplanned pregnancy in college, I learned early on that struggle is part of the story, but it’s not the whole story. I have always believed you can use hard things as fuel to connect with people more deeply, to fight for what matters, and to create something that did not exist before. For me, it has never been about hiding challenges, fear, and uncertainty, but about carrying them in a way that makes me sharper, more empathetic, and unwilling to waste time on things that don’t matter.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say I care most about people and their potential. I want to see others thrive and not have barriers in their way, whether that is in school, work, or life in general. They would also say I value integrity, follow-through, and kindness. I do what I say I will, I treat people with respect, and I expect the same in return.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I usually realize I am out of my depth not because I am failing, but because I catch myself holding too tightly to something that someone else could do better. I’m fortunate to have a team, board, and family who bring strengths I don’t have, and I trust them to challenge me and take the lead when needed. For me, it is less about admitting weakness and more about knowing when collaboration will get us further than going it alone!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellashouse.org
- Instagram: ellashouseorg
- Linkedin: ellashouseorg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellashouseorg/
- Other: Play Dilemma: https://ellashouse.org/Dilemma/
Image Credits
ColeySpencerVideo
