About our Founder
Hello! My name is Ivonne Ramirez
I’m a 4’11” powerhouse Latina, raised in a matriarchal household where speaking up, advocating fiercely, and creating space for others was non-negotiable. That foundation, rooted in culture, justice, and voice, shaped everything I’ve done since.
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I’m a speaker, facilitator, executive coach, and consultant who leads with heart and strategy. My journey began in Washington, DC, as a passionate advocate for gender equity and sexual violence prevention. Over time, my work evolved expanding into leadership development, organizational change, and systems design across higher education and the nonprofit sector.
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I approach every project through a values-aligned lens: identity matters, authenticity is a leadership skill, and real change starts from the inside out. My work blends lived experience with research-backed strategies to help organizations move from intention to action and to create cultures where both staff and communities can thrive.
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After over 14 years in institutional leadership roles, I launched Elevating Authenticity full-time in 2023. Today, I support socially conscious leaders, especially women of color, in building brave, effective, and values-rooted organizations. My work spans executive coaching, policy development, culture strategy, and transformational facilitation.
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A core part of my mission is uplifting and advocating for Latine communities, creating culturally grounded leadership spaces, trauma-informed systems, and tools that reflect our stories, our truths, and our brilliance.
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In 2024, I launched the Elevating My Authenticity conversation cards, a growing series of decks designed to help individuals and teams explore their identities, clarify their values, and lead with greater alignment and intention. These tools are used in coaching, leadership development, community building, and personal reflection to support the inner work that makes outer change possible.
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I hold certifications in executive coaching and social impact leadership, complementing my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. I bring both analytical skill and soul to every space I enter.
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And at the center of it all is my love for family. I carry my people with me in everything I do from the stories that shaped me to the joy I find in Sunday dinners, historical fiction novels, HGTV design shows, and slow moments with my pup, Mila.
Our Story
Because we believe authenticity isn’t just personal — it’s revolutionary.
Elevating Authenticity was born from a simple but powerful truth: authentic change begins with people who lead from their values.
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In 2014, our founder, Ivonne Ramirez, presented at a national conference on supporting survivors of sexual violence through trauma-informed, culturally grounded leadership. After the session, students, administrators, and nonprofit leaders reached out not just for resources, but for guidance on how to create communities of care, accountability, and real change. That moment sparked something bigger: a calling to help leaders and organizations move from intention to action.
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What began as side projects, often with her beloved pup, Bella, by her side, grew into something more. In honor of Bella’s unwavering companionship, Ivonne first named the organization B & I: Bella and Ivonne. After Bella’s passing in 2021, and with the company’s work expanding to include mental health, gender equity, and leadership development, the name no longer felt big enough to hold the mission.
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In 2024, Ivonne renamed the company Elevating Authenticity to reflect its true purpose: helping leaders and organizations bridge the gap between their values and their impact through identity-centered leadership, healing-centered practices, and systems rooted in equity.
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While our roots are in the United States, we have had the privilege of working across borders supporting leaders, organizations, and institutions throughout Latin America who are equally committed to fostering equity, inclusion, and transformative change within their communities.
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Over the years, we’ve partnered with higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and social impact companies
offering services ranging from executive coaching and policy advising to community engagement strategy and student leadership development.
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Today, Elevating Authenticity continues to help socially conscious leaders create cultures where people, policies, and purpose align. We remain committed to expanding this work globally, supporting those who are ready to lead with authenticity, courage, and care.
Our Team
Through small but mighty, B&I Consulting could not function without the support of the our additional team members.
