From the White House to Shopify: Elyse Collat’s E-Commerce Journey

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we sit down with Elyse Collat, founder of Elyse Collat eCommerce, to explore her unique journey into the world of e-commerce. Elyse shares how she began her career interning at the White House, moved across the world to Australia, and ultimately discovered Shopify—sparking a decade-long career working across startups, in-house brand teams, and her own consulting practice.Elyse breaks down her evolution from running an agency to coaching founders directly, focusing on customized strategies rather than one-size-fits-all frameworks. The conversation dives into organic versus paid marketing, the realities of scaling with ads, why platforms like Meta, Google, TikTok, and even Pinterest matter, and how founders can avoid burnout by building sustainable systems. She also shares her vision for the future, including expanding educational resources, collaborating with specialized experts, and eventually launching her own purpose-driven e-commerce brand.