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

What is Agile Methodology & Why Your Business Needs It

Do you need to hear it again? Traditional management practices are too slow and rigid to adapt in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing landscape. As a result, one approach to amp up your company is through agile methodologies. At this point, you might ask, well, what is agile methodology? In short, agile methodology offers a fresh... READ MORE

What is Content Marketing? Unveiling its Power!

Content marketing is a type of marketing that focuses on the production and sharing of content to attract and retain customers. It’s become an essential part of the marketing mix for businesses of all sizes. Moreover, it’s a crucial part of a business’s digital marketing strategy, so it’s vital to understand how it works and... READ MORE

How to Use Design Thinking in Your Business

Your favorite brands may inspire you to incorporate innovation into your small business. But you’re unsure where or how to start. If you’re reading this article, you probably know the value of design. Design thinking is a method for solving problems and generating new ideas through collaboration. Moreover, it’s proven one of the most effective... READ MORE

Roles of a Quality Leader: Preventing Toxic Work Environment

A toxic work environment is not something that anyone wants. Imagine spending 40+ hours a week at a job that brings you constant stress and worry. Unfortunately, it’s something many Americans experience. However, as we all know, it isn’t conducive to a productive work environment. It means that certain negative factors are at play that,... READ MORE

How to Deal with Criticism Positively at Work

Criticism at work could be tough, especially if it’s not something you’re accustomed to hearing. Who wants to hear that they’re not doing something as well as they thought? Of course, the answer is no one. That’s why you may ask how to deal with criticism positively. First, criticism isn’t always negative. In fact, many... READ MORE

How Do You Know If You’re Smart: 10 Signs of High Intelligence

If you find yourself reading this article, we can assume that you’re interested in the question, how do you know if you’re smart? What does it mean to be smart? Well, there are many definitions and variations of the word. Generally, intelligence means having a higher awareness of your surroundings, strong reasoning skills, and quick... READ MORE

How to Create Your Marketing Team Structure

How can we get people to buy our product? What’s the best way to do this? How much should we spend on marketing? Do we need a marketing team? When it comes to marketing team structure, the focus is usually on the result. We know that having an effective strategy is key to having a... READ MORE

Why Your Marketing Team Matters—Beyond the Obvious

Marketing is the art and science of attracting customers to a product or service. It’s an essential function of every company, and it’s not always easy. However, marketing isn’t only about looking outward to your leads and customers. Your marketing team is also in the service of supporting the entire company. Without marketing, you have... READ MORE

How to Be More Human in the Information Age (and Why It Matters)

You probably don’t need another article about how awkward things could be in the digital age. The internet’s a great place to find everything from mind-mapping to cat memes and inviting photos of destination races. But it isn’t so great for making (or keeping) friends. Online, we’re simultaneously hyperconnected but, in many cases, socially isolated.... READ MORE

6 Ways To Communicate Your Commitment To Sustainability

Sustainability is an increasingly important part of our everyday lives. More and more people are interested in sustainability and look for businesses that believe the same. But how can companies communicate their commitment to sustainability to their employees, partners, and customers? There are many ways to get the word out about sustainable leadership. For instance,... READ MORE

Get this free resource by entering your information below.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name