Member Spotlight: Ellie Tumbuan
What is your industry or area of expertise?
Leadership and organizational development through a racial equity lens and commitment.
Why do you believe in the mission of BlackFemaleProject?
I believe in the mission because I believe that my liberation is not possible if that mission is not realized. There’s the reality of justice—that Black women deserve that. It’s also about understanding that, when Black women win, everybody wins. Period. Because of the known and unknown histories of what Black women have gone through in the workplace, the healing, the recognition, and the valuing of Black women need to not just be reconciled but prioritized. By making these things true for Black women, we are accelerating healing and transformation and change for everybody else.
What brought you to BlackFemaleProject?
Definitely the founder. A dear friend of mine took me to a film premiere, and Precious was in the film. It exposed the experience of Black women in corporate America. I was just getting out of grad school and becoming politically activated, and I was like, “This story is so powerful; this is really important. We have to do something about this.” I didn’t know what role I could play, but I just realized that this is game-changing work. So I started out strategizing and advising on fundraising, team building, and board building.
How has BlackFemaleProject impacted you personally?
Being able to serve and feel purposeful and like my story is unique and valuable–in that way, Precious gave me a new dimension of purpose. It’s a reminder for me of the Black women business partners I have, who are another version of sisterhood for me. It gives me space to safely yet provocatively examine how I’m walking, talking, and living this story. How am I applying this in my daily relationships? Am I reflecting enough on where I'm bringing racism and other forms of deeply internalized oppression into my work, into my partnerships, and my now familial relationships with my business partners and my team? It has been transformative on a multitude of levels.
What motivated you to become an advisor to BlackFemaleProject?
We started as colleagues in community and then worked professionally together. After that, I was invited to be a member of the advisory council. And I agreed in part because I have so much fun, and I learn so much, and I get to express a slice of myself that I don't always get to make space for in my day to day. It’s gratifying for that reason too.
What BlackFemaleProject content or offering have you found most resonant?
The podcasts, the collection of stories—I love that they are not just written, but there’s something about that audio when you can hear the inflection and the intonation of the voices. You don’t just hear the story, but you feel it too.
Bio: Ellie brings nearly 30 years of professional and lived experience to her executive leadership of building and refining The Justice Collective’s consulting model, business and talent development, and organizational culture of a team of 20+ highly qualified consultants who have served over 130 clients since 2015. Ellie is a dynamic, in-demand strategist, coach, researcher, and community builder. She began her consulting experience in 2012 as Director of Impact and first hire at Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies after evaluating the organizational effectiveness and impact of hundreds of organizations in the grantmaking portfolios of the 27 family and community foundations she administered at a $3B endowment fund from 2007-2012. She has served on several boards and advisory councils, including Story for All, Asian Women Empowered, BlackFemaleProject, New Leaders Council Oakland, San Francisco City and County Reentry Council Policy Subcommittee (SF Adult Probation Dept.), Emerging Practitioners In Philanthropy, and Young Nonprofit Professionals Network.
Passionate about leadership, talent, and personal and organizational transformation, Ellie utilizes emotional intelligence, neuroplasticity, somatics, Intersectionality, Decolonized Methods of research, and Asset-Based analyses. She believes communities are the experts of their experiences and regularly speaks on leadership, meaningful equity metrics, inclusive culture, movement building, and works with other executives and their teams to build confidence in leading and long term sustaining equity.
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