Behaving Boldly shouldn’t be a one time thing. We should be able to pull that courage out of our back pocket and play in on repeat.

Are you willing to brave the storm?

All the things we really want feel hard to get.

Hear our Creative Director and Founder share her stories.

Elise Russell finds time to connect with her creative peers through her journey as a creative entrepreneur. She's spoken at CAMP Festival and Creative Mornings in Calgary, FITC in Toronto and High-Five in Raleigh, NC. Elise likes to mix it up and add new relevant stories to each presentation so you'll never hear the same talk twice.

Elise is creating a cultural shift by living life on her own terms.

She’s a quick-witted creative director and writer known for her twisted sense of humour, attention to detail and sass. Her work has been recognized by many of the world’s top advertising award shows, including the most coveted three: Cannes, D&AD and The One Show.

Often called candid, blunt and ballsy, Elise is a woman of action who prefers a cut-to-the-chase approach. She has no patience for unnecessary meetings or people that talk in circles, so she told traditional agency life to take a hike and launched Pony Friday: a motivational lifestyle brand. Elise currently devotes her energy, enthusiasm and leadership to Pony Friday by collaborating with likeminded creatives to produce inspirational talks and fun merchandise designed for those who dare to behave boldly.

Her audience will learn the five keys to behaving boldly:

  • knowing your personal truth

  • unlocking your drive

  • trusting your intuition

  • having creative courage

  • always being tenacious

Signature talk: Behave Boldly

Elise Russell is about sticking her neck out to win. In 2012, she quit her job as an award-winning advertising creative to be an entrepreneur. It wasn’t a soft transition; she didn’t have a plan. She simply wanted to have more fun and work when she felt inspired, not force her own creative hand in the conventional nine-to-five machine. Elise’s only safety net is her ability to produce under pressure. She believes in trusting her creative intuition, growing ideas like wildflowers and allowing things to evolve. She sets time aside to let her subconscious percolate and hands struggles over to her inner muse to resolve and spice up.

[1]: http://ponyfriday.com/elise-awards

Elise will share how she protects her creative path above all else and share the gains of jumping in with both feet. There are advantages to going out on your own—without a backup plan. Learn why she believes that few things are more sacred than being true to your inner creative and having the courage to chase down your dreams. You’ll be inspired to go for it.

**Target Audience: Creatives & Entrepreneurs**

  • INSPIRATIONAL + REALISTIC

    “Loved loved loved your session at high five. You’re truly inspirational and a realist: a killer combination. Would love to follow you as I plunge into starting my own business and growing it to succeed.”

    Kasey Kyprianou — Graphic Designer & Visual Communications Specialist, Raleigh, NC

  • POSITIVE + QUIRKY

    “Elise manages to find humour and lessons in what is often the very frustrating world of starting your own studio. This is largely attributed to her positive and quirky attitude that shines on and off stage.”

    Jacqueline Poole — Marketing, Talent & GIFs, FITC, Halifax, NS

  • GENUINE + FUNNY

    “The first time I saw Elise was at Creative Mornings. CM is a breakfast lecture series and Elise was the guest speaker for that day. The theme was Death…what?! How do you speak about death, well Elise chose the topic KILL FEAR. She was inspiring, genuine and funny. She killed it! In closing she said for the QA period she wanted to know how we would "Behave Boldly.””

    Wendy Sorenson — RE/MAX, Calgary, AB

  • ENGAGES THE AUDIENCE

    “When Elise takes the stage she engages the audience from beginning to end. She has a wonderful story to share and has a wonderful ability to connect with her audience.”

    Crystal Reynolds — Founder, Crystal Ink, Calgary, AB

  • RAINBOW OF JOY

    “Pony Friday's rainbow of joy starts and ends with the pot of gold that is Elise Russell—a hard working, ball of energy—and inspiration to the little voice inside each of us screaming to abandon the corporate world to do what we love.”

    Shawn Pucknell — Director, FITC, Toronto, ON

PODCASTS

What Were You Thinking? Podcast with Dana Goldstein
Ep 9: Documenting the Entrepreneurial Journey

Empowerography Podcast with Brad Walsh
Ep: Elise Russell

Be Brave at Work with Ed Evarts
Ep 86: Thoughts on career bravery.

Businesses are People Too! A Podcast! with Lindsay Harle
Ep 8: What if... businesses behaved boldly for growth while making incremental shifts?

Life (Un)Closeted Podcast with Rick Clemons
Ep 297: Behaving Boldly, Chasing Dreams, Pony’s & Fridays

Studio 78 Podcast with Nache’ Snow
Ep 68: Behave Boldly: Why It’s Important To Chase Your Dreams

SPEAKING

High Five Conference 2019 • Your Brand Is Your Currency
CAMP Festival 2018 • Round Table Facilitator
FITC Toronto 2017 • Behave Boldly
Creative Mornings Calgary 2017 • Kill Fear
High Five Conference 2017 • Behave Boldly
CAMP Festival 2016 • Behave Boldly

INTERVIEWS & MENTIONS

TEDxCalgary
CTV News Calgary
Calgary Herald
Lilac + Clover

Our Founder wrote a book about us:

Hear the story about our first years in business straight from the pony mother’s mouth. Elise Russell shares the ups and downs of her personal journey as a creative entrepreneur.