Elian, a Venezuelan immigrant who has called Tulsa home for the past 27 years, is deeply committed to the city and its vibrant Latino community. Serving the Latino community has been a vital part of her corporate career spanning over 16 years. From the banking industry to Habitat for Humanity and ultimately consulting, Elián has made it a point to offer equal opportunities to the underserved Latino market.

As the founder of Galera Consulting, Elian has been pivotal in driving economic empowerment and opportunity in Tulsa. Her firm collaborated with a soon-to-be CDFI, to design and develop a lending program tailored for local Latino entrepreneurs, funding over 43 microloans. Additionally, Elian spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive financial literacy curriculum, and has impacted over 250 Hispanic business owners in Tulsa.

 

Through collaboration with the Lobeck Taylor Foundation, Elian's consultancy facilitated the implementation of a food entrepreneur cohort, graduating over 40 Latino entrepreneurs in just two years.
 

Elian's dedication to community progress extends beyond her consultancy work. She has advocated for economic equity as a trustee of Partner Tulsa and a member of various boards, including La Cosecha, College Bound Academy, and YMCA. Elian was awarded the 2022 Pinnacle Corporate Business Award from the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women.

 

In 2023, she hosted the inaugural Latina Leadership Conference, gathering over 80 professional Latinas. This inspired her to create a new organization: Tulsa Latina Leadership.

Elian has played a pivotal role in the founding committee for creating the new Immigrant Business Incubator Community Development Corporation in East Tulsa for the past two years. This initiative underscores her ongoing commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and economic empowerment within immigrant communities, further solidifying her reputation as a tireless advocate for inclusive growth and opportunity in Tulsa.