We recently connected with Nancy Ellis and have shared our conversation below.

Nancy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Absolutely. In an industry full of formulas, funnels, and surface-level motivation, I do things differently by coaching through connection, trust, and truth — starting with the heart, not the hustle.

I’m not your typical leadership coach. I didn’t come out of a textbook or a TED Talk. I spent over 35 years in media sales, rebuilding my career three times — once after losing everything, once during the pandemic, and once after a stroke in my 60s. And through all of that, one thing never changed: people do business with people they trust.

The industry says performance is king. I say trust is the new currency.

I walk into rooms where generations don’t understand each other, where leadership is out of sync, and where culture looks good on paper but is failing in real time. I don’t just train — I translate. I help Boomers understand Gen Z. I help founders stop leading in silos. I help teams stop talking at each other and start building trust with each other.

What sets me apart? I coach from a place of healing and legacy, not ego or applause. I believe what’s broken in leadership today isn’t capability — it’s connection. And I’m here to rebuild it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Nancy Ellis, founder of Connect Consulting, a leadership and trust-building company helping organizations transform their culture from the inside out. After over 35 years in media sales and leadership, I walked away from the corporate world in my 60s — not because I had to, but because I felt deeply called to start something new.

I didn’t launch Connect to chase success. I launched it to chase obedience. After surviving a stroke and feeling God stir my heart, I knew it was time to take the trust I had spent my life building — in boardrooms, in teams, in family — and use it to help others lead more authentically.

At Connect, I coach leaders, facilitate team trust workshops, and speak on stages about the real issues shaping today’s workplace: the erosion of trust, the generational divide, and the pressure to perform instead of connect. I’m certified in The Five Behaviors®, Everything DiSC®, and Dare to Lead™ principles — but what makes my work different isn’t the frameworks. It’s the way I translate those tools into something deeply human.

My superpower is connection. I help people feel seen. I help leaders rebuild trust where it’s been lost, and I help bridge the gap between generations in the workplace — especially between seasoned executives and rising Gen Z talent.

What I’m most proud of isn’t the programs I’ve created — it’s the freedom I’ve stepped into. I want people to see that it’s never too late to start again, to lead with heart, or to heal out loud. My story isn’t polished, but it’s honest. And I believe that’s what the world needs more of in leadership

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was this:
That starting over at my age was irresponsible, unrealistic… maybe even foolish.

I had built a 40-year career in media and leadership. I was the safe bet. The consistent one. The woman who could sell anything, show up for anyone, and keep the wheels turning—often at the expense of myself. I knew how to perform. I knew how to produce. But deep down, I also knew: I wasn’t fully aligned anymore. Something sacred was stirring.

For years, I’d feel the whisper: There’s more for you. But I’d push it down. I told myself I was too old. Too late. Too behind. That I didn’t have the credentials. That I should be grateful and quiet.
But then—life stopped me. Literally. I had a stroke.

Everything I thought I had to hold together came undone. And in that unraveling, I heard God speak the clearest truth I’ve ever heard:
You are not abandoned. You are surrounded.
Not by status or strategy—but by Me. By purpose. By a calling that cannot be earned, only answered.

So I walked away from what made sense, and into what made meaning. I started Connect Consulting not because I had it all figured out—but because I knew I couldn’t stay where I was. And I’ve never felt more alive, more aligned, or more equipped. Not in spite of my age—but because of it.

What I unlearned?
That legacy is something you leave.
What I believe now?
Legacy is something you live—one brave, obedient, faith-filled step at a time.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My reputation wasn’t built by strategy alone—it was built through relationship. Real connection. Deep care. A servant mindset.

I think people have come to trust me not because I was the loudest voice in the room, but because I was the most present. I listen with curiosity. I lead with vulnerability. And I genuinely love people. That’s not just how I do business—it’s who I am.

I believe authenticity builds trust. And trust builds reputation.

Whether I was leading a team, coaching a client, or navigating a sales conversation, I never tried to be perfect—I showed up transparent, passionate, and anchored in truth. That’s what people remember. That’s what builds legacy.

In the end, I think people feel safe with me. Seen. Heard. Valued.
And that, more than anything, has shaped my reputation in every room I walk into.
Just like Maya Angelou said:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
That’s the legacy I’m building—one relationship at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.connectconsultingbr.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancybombetellis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancybombetellis
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-bombet-ellis-4084505/

Image Credits

Natalie Spera Miller