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

It’s All About the Benjamins in Nonprofit Investment

In my business, I work with nonprofits and social enterprise organizations every day. It still amazes me when I speak to executives, who tell me they hope for lightning in a bottle regarding nonprofit investment. They anxiously repeat the same fundraising practices that they always use. And even if it doesn’t deliver results, they keep... READ MORE

Five Leadership Myths

Leadership, and what makes or does not make a leader, is something we live with every day of our lives. We seek leaders in government, work, sports, and our private lives with PTAs and among our friends when we are being galvanized for a specific reason. If you ask most people, in whatever case, they... READ MORE

Retention Strategies for Non-Profit Staff

Recently, I wrote an article about CEO compensation in the non-profit sector. However, it was rightly pointed out to me that it is not only CEO pay that needs to be reviewed. It also includes salaries and retention for staff at all levels. Further, it’s essential to realize that wages affect retention strategies. As a... READ MORE

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