Wayne Elsey
Founder

About Wayne

Transforming Business Through Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship

Wayne Elsey has spent his career proving business can do more than make a profit—it can change lives. As founder and CEO of Elsey Enterprises, he leads companies like Funds2Orgs and Sneakers4Good that give shoes and sneakers a second life and communities a chance to thrive.

His journey started after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Seeing people in need, Wayne acted quickly to collect shoes. That simple response grew into a movement. Today, his companies have helped redistribute over 37 million pairs of shoes, keep them out of landfills, support micro-entrepreneurs in 24 countries, and create jobs across the U.S.

Wayne works with an execution-first philosophy: act boldly, measure results and build teams that get things done. This approach has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, the Today Show and Fox News.

He’s also a Forbes Business Development Council member, a contributor to Brainz Magazine and the author of books including Tied Together: A Pathway to Hope, the Not Your Father’s Charity series, and

Almost Isn’t Good Enough. Through coaching and speaking, Wayne encourages entrepreneurs and leaders to see they already have the tools to make impact—they just need to take the first step.

At the end of the day, Wayne believes sustainability is about people as much as the planet. Every reused pair of sneakers tells a story of dignity, opportunity and a better future.

Wayne's latest articles

Help One Person and You’ll Help Humanity

I always say that one of the best things about writing this blog is that I have the opportunity to amplify people and organizations doing social good. Recently, I featured an article about

7 Ways to Form a Healthy Relationship With Money, Which Doesn’t Own YOU

“Too many people spend money they earned…to buy things they don’t want… to impress people they don’t like.” – Will Rogers Although the economy looks fine for some, if you talk to many of your

The One Birthday Wish I Did Not Receive

Yesterday I had an awesome day. It was my birthday. But, this post isn’t about my birthday. It’s about something that stayed with me during the entire course of the day and perhaps you’ve experienced it in your own life. On social media alone, I received over 700 birthday wishes at last count. I am... READ MORE

25 Questions To Open Up Your Life And Your Mind

Life is not easy. In fact, sometimes it can be downright cruel. But, despite whatever happens or we make happen to us, it’s still something I would do over again if I could.

How Fear-Based Decision-Making Affects Your Organization

I’ve written about the permeating fear that exists in the nonprofit sector. I think we’re fast approaching a time where this will hurt many organizations more than they can ever imagine. Nonprofits are

This Is Why I Appreciate YOU… YOU MATTER

I’ve been on the receiving end of someone telling me I would amount to nothing in my life. In fact, I will never forget a teacher in high school telling me that many

Get Off the Couch! 4 Reasons Why You’ll Succeed With Your Goals

So, we’re at the beginning of a New Year. By now, you may have already failed at your resolutions. Wait! There’s hope. It doesn’t matter who you are. Most people want to improve on some aspect

Whatever You Do, Look To Skid Broadside Into The Grave

 “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke,

Living in the 10 Percent of Life

My best pal in the world, Fran, had cancer. The doctors gave him less than a 10 percent chance to live. The news was devastating. He would be lucky to live a year.

5 Ways to Turn Rejection Into An Opportunity

We’ve all been there. You apply for a job and get rejected. You make a presentation at work thinking everyone will be supportive, and it falls with a thud on deaf ears. Perhaps

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