The Bold and Brilliant Podcast w/ Guest Elle Ballard

🎧 Episode Summary:
What does it take to uproot your life, step into the unknown, and create a thriving global community of women entrepreneurs? In this episode of the Bold and Brilliant Podcast, Tracie sits down with Elle Ballard—founder of the Women of the World Network, abundance mentor, author, speaker, and advocate for authentic living. Elle shares her bold journey from Kazakhstan to the United States, building businesses, launching communities, and embracing her true calling with her latest work, Free, Fulfilled, and Fabulous. Get ready for a conversation about courage, intuition, and embodied learning that will inspire you to move toward your own brilliance.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Elle turned bold decisions into stepping stones for her entrepreneurial journey
• Why the Women of the World Network is transforming the way women connect across cultures
• The power of embodied learning and how dance can unlock clarity and creativity
• How to integrate abundance, authenticity, and joy into both business and life
• The importance of listening to your body and intuition to make aligned choices

🛠️ Actionable Tips from Elle Ballard:

• Pay attention to moments of stillness—your best insights often arise there.
• Let your body guide you; movement can unlock wisdom your mind alone cannot.
• Surround yourself with a supportive, diverse community for growth and accountability.
• Say yes to opportunities that feel aligned, even if they’re bold and scary.

🎤 Memorable Quote:
"Sometimes we forget how bold we were. That’s why it’s so important to pause, remember, and keep leading with boldness." – Elle Ballard

🔥 Bold Moment of the Episode:
Elle shares the defining moment when her corporate company was sold and instead of returning to “safe,” she took the leap to launch her own business and ultimately create Women of the World Network—a bold decision that reshaped her life and the lives of women globally.

📱 Connect with Elle Ballard:
Website: www.elleballard.com
Women of the World Network: www.womenoftheworldnetwork.com

🚀 Join the Bold and Brilliant Podcast Community:
Step into bold action and connect with other brilliant women inside The Gather Community.

🌟 Rate & Review:
If Elle’s story inspired you, please take a moment to rate and review the podcast—it helps us share more bold and brilliant conversations with women worldwide!

Thank you for supporting The Bold and Brilliant Podcast!

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xoxo
Your host,
Tracie Root

Transcript

0:00

Are you ready to take bold action and live a life of brilliance? Welcome to the Bold and Brilliant Podcast, where women leaders share inspiring stories about daring decisions that shape their businesses, their lives, and their careers today, and with the fabulous and amazing l Ballard. L is a catalyst for transformation, igniting change in the lives of women across the world. She's a dynamic, holistic, abundance mentor, founder of the Women of the World Network and accomplished author, and a captivating speaker who takes her clients on transformative journeys of personal growth and empowerment. A passionate advocate for abundance. Elegance and authentic self-expression. EL finds beauty in coffee rituals, breathtaking views, and the artistry of ballroom dancing. Always inspiring women to live fully and fabulously. As we talk, you'll hear El share her journey of entrepreneurship, including one bold decision that has created her path of what was next. Her story of resilience, risk taking, and transformation will inspire, encourage, and support your personal and professional growth. Please join me in welcoming al to the Bold and brilliant podcast.

Tracie: 1:36

Elle welcome to the Bold and Brilliant podcast. I'm so excited to have you as my guest.

Elle: 1:43

Thank you. Thank you, Tracy. I'm excited to be here.

Tracie: 1:46

Yay. You know, we were chatting as we were getting started, and I'm just so grateful we connected. Gosh, it's been six years probably now. Since we, it's been a while. Finally. Yeah. The World Networks and

Elle: 2:01

yes,

Tracie: 2:02

up gathered, like all of these things that were happening pre pandemic, it was all getting started and here we are so many years later, still connected and I'm such a fan, so I just am so excited.

Elle: 2:16

Thank you.

Tracie: 2:17

To have you be a part of the podcast that I get to bring your story to everyone else. You know, I had someone who we know mutually tell me how much they're enjoying. Checking out these episodes and interviews with people that they know also and learning more about them as a result. So hopefully love it. People who are listening here will go find some other episodes and other friends that maybe they need a refresher on their story too.

Elle: 2:42

Yes. How exciting. Congratulations.

Tracie: 2:45

Yeah, super fun. Thank you. I'm really excited to bring your story and your, you know, bold decision making to this audience because I am really, I've always been so enamored by your story of, of. Decision making, like how you've grown, how you grew up, and your stories coming to the states and, and changing jobs, and building your own business and all of those things. And I know we're gonna step touch on a lot of those steps as we go, but for people who haven't had a chance to meet you yet, sad for them, glad they're here. Talk a little bit about. How you got to where you are, like not, not the whole story, but give us some origin story so people understand where you came from.

Elle: 3:32

Absolutely. Thank you for doing this for others. And I love leading with Bold'cause I feel like there's so many bold decisions we make in life and I know I have done them and sometimes we forget how bold we were. So reminding you know, us in leading with that. So I love, love, love that. And this whole podcast theme. So I'm originally from USSR. I was born in USSR, which is now a country called Kazakhstan. Came here over 22 years ago. Been living, I know, I think 20, 23, 24 years now in, in the us and had a small business back in my country. Loved it in my early twenties. It just happened. What, what was that? It was, it was connected to real estate. And it was at a time I was working full time, completely different interstate. I was working in oil and gas and the opportunity just, you know, fell on my lap. I tried it and I loved, love, love, just being able to exercise my decision making. Be creative in it. And so it kind of stuck with me that I wanted to be in business for myself several years later, moved to to the US and new country, one of the bold decisions, new country, new people, new language, new everything. Understanding what would the needs be here for the business and everything. Decided to go enter my MBA in marketing and then I worked in corporate environments and marketing different software companies. I learned a lot but still kind of had that, you know, desire to, to create something on my own. And then the company sold out. Our company got sold out and I. Took it as a, another kind of push for me, I decided to go, is this sign right? Universe opens the door and I went and started my own. And so in thinking, I still actually have a diary or the journal where I put all the things that I wanted to do and you know what this will be called, this will. And so thinking what would what would this look like? And that started I was in direct sales and then. Continued with Women of the World Network, which you mentioned because of who I am, where I come from, and that's deeply resonated with my heart to be able to support. Women globally, and I'm just so thankful that we have been building this, this platform. I'm thankful for including yourself, for, for the women in our community. And we've published four multi author books. Have a podcast and everything, and it's a series of bold decisions, you know, one after another right? To, to be able to push through and continue following what you're passionate.

Tracie: 6:12

And since we've met, you've, you know, developed that business and are moving more into something that's kind of more from your core into what you're offering now. But before we do that, I wanna make sure to, to talk about women of the World Network enough to where people, because I always, I refer people to you frequently because I think that

Elle: 6:35

Thank you.

Tracie: 6:35

The, the model and the understanding of. The women that are in that community is a very, is very special. I felt drawn to it because I wanted to expand my understanding of people from all around the world. Yet I'm just sitting here in California and not going anywhere exotic or interesting outside of, you know, Silicon Valley. And I found it to be a way to really start to understand people that were from places other than where I have experienced. So talk about how you. Support women in women of the world. Just, I know we're gonna move on from there, but I really wanna make sure that that gets anchored in this conversation as well.

Elle: 7:18

Yeah, absolutely. Thank you Tracy. Yeah, thank you. Thank you for saying that. That's exactly the idea behind really connecting women from different cultures who. Come and decide this one day that they wanna build a business, they come together. But, they all wanna build business. They all have this unique, beautiful qualities that they bring to the table. And it's so much easier done when we are doing it together with the supportive in the supportive environment, supporting each other. So women of the World Network, community for multinational women in business, we have women I think about 25 countries represented, meaning women originally from different countries living in the us building businesses here, and learning about them. And I just, it's just a never ending learning and uplifting one another. And, we have accountability now in place, very structured where we help support each other with those goals. We kind of report to each other every week, what we are working on, where we are, and you know, it's a, it's a great supportive community for, for women in business who, who wanna have a sisterhood where they can. Come and, and network and speak. We give women voices through our books, through our podcast, through our networking events. We have monthly online networking events. And now we also do, we used to have chapters before pandemic. We had about 10 chapters before pandemic, and then we move to fully online now. But we do have in-person gatherings. So this year we actually have three of them. We had one in, in, in California in March where you participated. We had one in Hawaii in May. And then we are having one next one is in Texas, Houston, Texas, in October. And so next year we're planning to do the same thing. So sort of three locations right now where we gather for the full day. So we come together one full day networking, speaking dancing, you know, tasty lunch and just. Just just enjoying each other companies. Yeah. So those are the things that are available in the community and of course we help support those members promoting their projects initiatives as well.

Tracie: 9:31

Yeah, I love that. And you're right, I was there in March, very happy to, got to be a part of that and to reconnect with women who I had met online, but got to meet in person. And you have some people travel in and of course with three different locations. People are gonna go to the one that's closest to them, which helps them build their community. But also people were traveling outside of their area as well, which is fascinating to see who shows up and who comes from where and,

Elle: 10:01

yep.

Tracie: 10:01

And, and because of the diversity that you attract. The kinds of businesses and the way people show up is, is very it's very inspiring because you know, a lot of people, their English might not be their first language, so

Elle: 10:20

mm-hmm.

Tracie: 10:20

And

Elle: 10:20

yeah,

Tracie: 10:21

the person's language in the room might not be their first language too. So there's a lot of, we're all there to understand. Right. And regardless of what. Obstacles, there might be. We're here to break down those obstacles and to overcome them, to get to know each other, to get to celebrate each other. And I just think it's a beautiful situation and I'm, like I said, thank you. I think it's so wonderful. Yeah.

Elle: 10:49

Thank you.

Tracie: 10:50

So, and one of the things you talked about in March was really talking about. You and not the community that you built, but the, the work that's kind of coming from your soul now and out, right? You built the, the, the big picture of who, your support structure too around you and the people that you attract and who, who you're connected to. But now you're taking this kind of real core self of yours and sharing that with the world. So talk about free, fulfilled, and fabulous. And your decision, that bold decision to be like, I already created this community, but I need to do something that's gonna fuel my soul.

Elle: 11:34

Right? Yeah. And share that with,

Tracie: 11:36

so talk about that.

Elle: 11:37

I love the way you put it. Thank you, Tracy. And yes. How

Tracie: 11:40

coach?'cause I I see it. I mean, I, my friend, I get right. Yes, yes,

Elle: 11:45

yes, yes. Yeah, no, thank you. And, and I love how you put the bold, the whole theme for this podcast. And. That's another ball decision for sure. You know, and so if we, if we talked about ball decisions the, when we want something, I always believe, and I always say when we want something, that's something is just not, it's not a mistake. It's not a just somebody says something, it's, yeah, something we need to pay attention to because if we follow that, that will. Help us take a bold action towards it. Right? And so the, the Women of the World Network I, we, we woke and we still, we still have it of course, and everything, but while building this over the years and, and meeting all these beautiful women all over the world and seeing them grow and, and, and thrive. I've also grown myself, of course, and I've been growing and digging deeper into myself and as a, so I have been a dancer before, and then I've just went back to dancing and the whole embodiment, the embodied learning. Mm-hmm. As I. Became to understand it. Yeah. Is really was the, the, the beginning of what this whole idea of free, fulfilled, and fabulous. And so now I really wanna go deeper to provide to give women this, this platform. You know, it's really about lifestyle. So we, we still building the business here. We still have the business, kinda the networking and all of this. But I feel like what's missing is the AZA part of it, which is where the lifestyle comes in with the, the joy, the sisterhood, the expanded lifestyle, if you would. Because typically we don't have time to speak about what's going on in our lives at the, at the, the typical business networking meeting, which is understandably, of course. And so I wanted to create this, another platform which incorporates my passion for embodied learning. And that's where, that's how this concept was born. So, yeah, so launching the another bold decision, stepping into my passion who I truly am. And I've realized, you know, I've been dancing over the years and that's, that's where it's just so interesting how that brings you back into mm-hmm. You know, who I am, who you are. At the core, at my core, and how can that be now brought into light and how can I use that to build a deeper connection? This co conceptualize and everything. So it, so it's been a. It's, it is been an interesting journey and it still is. And, but I'm excited to be able to bring it to life now in the form of a club free, fulfill and fabulous, where we do the embodied learning. And then that will also follow it's followed by the inner circle that we are bringing along with the retreats international retreats as well. Yeah, so very exciting.

Tracie: 14:46

So I wanna, I wanna talk about this phrase embodied learning because I think this. Is something that if you're in the world that talks about embodying things and, and somatics and all, and the things that happen when you are paying attention to the way your body's reacting or acting the people who are in that world get it and the people who aren't kind of, don't yeah. That maybe are curious. And I was one of those people I remember. Gosh, before we met, probably, but not long before I was on one of Katerina's cruises. Katerina Rau, she's got an episode, go, isn't her. I met someone and like her thing was a somatic something and I'm like, I don't even really know what that means. What, what is that? And it's, you know, oh, it's the understanding of how the body and reacts and, and there's a lot more understanding of it now. But I think that when. People are able to feel what they're experiencing instead of just think about what they're experiencing and understand those feelings, then they're way more likely to allow them to guide them. Right, like the, the right, like the mm-hmm. The, the embodied learning, the idea of. Like there's, what's that book? There's a book called The Body Keeps the Score, which is a, to like trauma mm-hmm. And all of those things. But the whole idea of like, your body is there. It's not just this thing that you eat and digest and sleep. Mm-hmm. You know, it, it's, it's a, it is you, right? It's not your brain versus your body. It's all one. Connection in the brain body connection and, and the gut and all of those different things are also connected to allow yourself to say, I feel this in my body, so I know it's right. Yeah. Or, I feel this in my body, so I'm going to follow it. Whatever it is, I may not know it's right yet, but if it's here, I'm gonna mm-hmm. See what happens. Mm-hmm. Going forward with it. And those of us who are, are able to recognize that or when we're able to rec, because no one's perfect anyway. When we're able to recognize that it's that, yeah, it's in you for a reason. It's it's supposed to be there. It's part of you. So let it show

Elle: 17:20

exactly. Exactly. It's so when I was thinking about bringing this new concept, you know, and a free, fulfilled and fabulous, by the way, Stan, you know, freedom is where we talk about the, the, the mental things that stop us. The blogs, the, the, the, the upbringing, there's a lot. Mm-hmm. In the upbringing, right. A lot of the answers are in the childhood. Right. If we, and then, and then of course the creating the monetary on the outside, when I talk about fulfillment is a lot about following your dharma, like being in, in which you're supposed to,'cause we can do ev like we can do so many things. There's so many things and, and. And, and I'm, and I'm loved that we are living in this time where we are, you know, blessed to, to, to have so many opportunities. But really at the end of the day, what is it that really is for me to do? Who it is at? I am to bring it. And so the fulfillment, the joy that it brings me. And then, so, and the fabulous part, of course, it's all about the, the energy, the voice, the showing up. Yeah. The, the, the claiming that spotlight. And I, I love to add vitality and longevity. Longevity field is a long term of passion of mine as well. So I incorporate all of that. So when I was putting it together. In theory, it's all great and we can study the theory, we can, we can learn the material. But what takes it one step further is when we actually embody and. Dance it. And I use dance just because I've, being a dancer and dance is something that talks to me. I talk to it. Yeah. If, if something, these days, if, if I'm working on something, if I'm working on a project and, or I need a, I need to strategize, I actually dance it out to receive answers. Our body has so much wisdom and so when we move the body, when we like in that space of receiving, answers from within versus from the outside. That's where it's really powerful, and that's what I mean by embodied learning where we, you know, we it's, it's a frequency of, of of that being that really helps move the needle forward. And that's what I've realized. For me to move forward, I need to really step away and just, you know, yeah. And, and and dance it out. Like I dance when I'm sad. I dance when I'm, it's really just helping emotions move through the body. When I'm happy I dance when I'm joy. I mean, you know, but I cannot not help smile when I, you know, have time on my body. So yeah. So it's. It's, it's, it's really just, yeah, because there's a lot, we keep a lot energetically and yeah. So that's where that is. Mm-hmm.

Tracie: 19:58

I love that. And you said something about like the outside versus, you know, what's in you. And, and so I was thinking about, you know, I've got this momentum, bold momentum Summit coming up. It's long over by the time this gets out, but it's tomorrow. And so it's a lot on my mind and the idea of. Motivation from the outside or inspiration from the outside versus what's coming from the inside. And like you said mm-hmm. By allowing your body to to show up for you right. In whatever exactly you feel good gives you that internal motivation, internal magic that can come out mm-hmm. When, and it's so much more natural and easy and, mm-hmm. And it just flows as opposed to trying to take. The shoulds and the exactly the shoulds, everything from the outside. Mm-hmm. And try to do

Elle: 20:54

Yeah.

Tracie: 20:55

Heard or felt.

Elle: 20:56

Exactly. Yeah.'cause then that leads to burnout and we, we, we spinning the wheel, but we, we just not getting there. Right. Yeah. And yeah. And, and there are so many, of course, great tips. Information that coming, it has these days especially. So just being able to really, what's, what's mine here? What's mine? You know, and, and, and leading with that. I think that's just so, so important. And that's what, and this has been actually reflected on my experience, my own experience, and that's how I came. To do this because that's what I've experienced myself. Mm-hmm. And so I say, you know, if I, if I need an answer, I actually, I dance it out. And so that's been, and that's how this concept was born. And yeah. And so I'm excited, I excited to bring that and, you know, bringing the, bringing it deeper in the community and and, and adding this AZA layer for those who are ready to move to this azalea, you know, and, and going deeper in addition to building businesses, but also just going within and building ourselves now too, and, you know, giving back to us. So, like

Tracie: 22:06

you said, what, what's for you? Right. Yeah. The only way you can know what's really for you is to know it, and you know Yeah. By listening to your own thoughts, not external thoughts, listening to your own kind of gut feeling, or you know what feels right, your intuition, your, mm-hmm. Everything's all connected. When you know it's for you, then you. Are glad to move forward and you have ambition and you have motivation, and you have exactly what you need and yeah. And so I love that you're bringing that to, especially women entrepreneurs who there's so much action to-do. List, make it happen. Grind. Yes. Grind, which you know is a lot from our past from. The nineties Exactly. You know, from our corporate lives and all of that. And as we move into what we want for ourselves to be able to listen to that and really tune into it and use it as the tool that we, you know, we, we just are not that we got Right. Right. We, we are. Yeah. That tool and that understanding to go forward. I love it. Exactly. I think it's great. Yeah. And, and to bring that to people who maybe are like, I was those seven years ago where I just didn't really get how, what you meant. Right. You gotta keep talking about it because eventually it makes sense and you can't Yeah. You know, and you don't wanna ever stop because now it makes sense. Yeah. And we gotta keep going.

Elle: 23:38

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Tracie: 23:39

Yeah. Yeah. So, so where. So you've mentioned your program, your live events, the retreats, the international retreats, your books, all of these different things. Where do people usually kind of get started with you? Like when you're, when someone's, if someone's listening to this and they're like, Elle sounds really awesome and I have no idea where I should, what I should do first, or, you know, what, what's there for me from a opportunity to, to get going with her? What, what should we tell them?

Elle: 24:13

Yeah, depending on the needs. Elle ballard.com. I have everything on the website there. Yeah. And the FFF, the club that's coming up, October 1st is there as well. And then our upcoming retreat in Bali we are doing Bali. Yeah, we're doing Bali, September 26th and

Tracie: 24:31

September of 2026.

Elle: 24:33

Yeah. Sept. Yes. Thank you. Yes. September, 2026. Yes. Not, not this September. And yeah, so we bring in the whole concept of that it about, and, and the way I love international. We talked about cultures, of course. Learning cultures. That's, I love, love, love, cultures, traditions, languages. And so, but in addition to if we are moving as women entrepreneurs, if we are moving toward the next level, it always helps to kind disconnect and get into a new environment. And that's where the, that's where the international retreat, that's what they bring. You know, where we step away. And that's just providing this space for this growth for the next, and the clarity to, to and, and

Tracie: 25:19

what I love about it being an international retreat,'cause I have this exact same philosophy about my retreats, but mine are local domestic

Elle: 25:26

uhhuh. But yeah.

Tracie: 25:27

But what I love about it expanding even further is a, you bring your international flavor by going somewhere else. Not that you're from Bali in any way, but it's a whole different perspective. To go somewhere where people are different. They speak a different language, they look different, their, their cultural, like icons are different and the roads, like everything's different. The roads, the trees. Right. You know, everything that you experience from the moment you're there is it's expansive to mm-hmm. To get a chance to Exactly. Mm-hmm. Somewhere that's a totally new. Experience with a guide for safety, right? So like you are not going there dropped in the middle of a jungle. No. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Anything. But you have that safety net to be able to say, I don't know anything about this, but I would love to learn. And the more we are open to learning, the more we're open to everything. So I, I think that's really great. So September, 2026 for Bali. You mentioned that F F's gonna start, I think you said October, which is October 1st. It'll probably just be coming out before that, so there's still time for that. And you know, there's always women of the world stuff happening too, and Of course, mm-hmm. We're, you know, just connect. You mentioned your website, of course that'll all be in the show notes. I know that you are active on social media. People can follow you there as well and find you there. And you know, one of the things I know about those of us, like you and me who create communities and work with women entrepreneurs is it's all about the conversation and getting started understanding each other in relationships. So if you're curious about Al, I want you to reach out and. See if you guys, yes. Be happy to get to know each other because that's the beginning of all of these great relationships. That's the beginning of Elle and I being connected. It's the beginning of you. Yeah, exactly. Out there listening to my podcast and it's the beginning of you now, maybe getting to know Al and learning about what she has too. So yes, darling. I'm so glad that you could be here with,

Elle: 27:34

thank you.

Tracie: 27:35

Yes,

Elle: 27:36

thank you.

Tracie: 27:36

It's my pleasure. And yeah, we had already talked about what's coming up, so there's no like, what else is coming up? But do you have like, like a, wrap it up in a bow, like final thought you wanna leave for people?

Elle: 27:51

Yeah. I think it's important in the business of today to really to find, find a moment of stillness. And I've I treasure these moments to these days because I get a lot of insightful information that I've learned to, like you mentioned, you know, it used to be like being in sales before I used to go, go, go, go, go, go. But I feel this next level requires us to be able to find yeah, that alignment in stillness. And if, if anything comes up, just pay attention to that because there, there will be information coming up and if we just, you know, we see it, we, we, we do the breath work, we meditate and then we jump in and go do the same thing that we've done before. It's not gonna help. But if we pay attention to what. And note to what what we what we received and follow up on that. That will that will prob there is something there. I'm sure.

Tracie: 28:55

I love that.

Elle: 28:56

Yeah.

Tracie: 28:57

I absolutely agree.

Elle: 28:59

Yeah. And yeah, and thank you for having me today. Always great to talk to you. Yes, my friend. My pleasure.

Tracie: 29:06

And I'm so glad. Thank you for being on the Bold and Brilliant podcast.

Elle: 29:10

Thank you. Thank you.

29:14

Thank you for listening to the Bold and Brilliant podcast. I'm your host, Tracy Root, and I wanna invite you to check out the show notes, find out where you can connect with our guests, find out more about what I and the Gather community have to offer you, and be sure to subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform. Thanks so much.