Elise Lindborg

Brand|Pride

CEO

Prior to starting Brand|Pride , Elise was the United States National Rowing Team Manager from 1987 to 1996. She was responsible for all training, travel, drug testing and competition logistics for Olympic, Pan Am, World University and National Team activities. Elise culminated her career in amateur sports by managing the 1996 U.S. Olympic Rowing Team. Elise is married to Kelli Henderson – the co-owner of Brand|Pride . They celebrated 32 years together this past March!

At Brand|Pride, our core philosophy is to help our clients manage, protect, and enhance their brand equity through the use of promotional merchandise. Brand|Pride was founded in 2000 and has offices in Las Vegas, Nevada and Seattle, Washington. Founded by Elise Lindborg and Kelli Henderson, Brand|Pride is the only certified LGBTQ business to be named the National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious

Supplier of the Year twice, in 2013 and 2021.

Who is your favorite LGBTQ+ icon, and why?

Jeanne Manford the founder of PFLAG. PFLAG stands for Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Jeanne is the first true ally of the LGBTQ community. She was the first to fully support her gay child and started the first support group in the country so parents could talk to each other and know they were not the only ones with gay children. She envisioned the group as a bridge between the gay community and the heterosexual community. The initial group of 20 met in March 1973 at a church in Greenwich Village and has grown to over 400 chapters and 250,000 members. At PFLAG diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed.

Share your business philosophy and its influence on your success.

When trying to earn new business from large customers, sometimes it takes years to get your foot in the door. Don’t burn bridges but instead be patiently and politely persistent.

What values have led to and continue to support your business acumen?

When things get tough or there is a challenge to be met, I tap into my ancestral Sisu. I am a 1/4 Swedish, 1/4 Danish, 1/4 Norwegian and 1/4 Finnish. Sisu is a unique Finnish concept that can be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. It’s an almost magical quality, a combination of stamina, perseverance, courage and determination held in reserve for hard times. I never give up.