People sometimes tell me they’re doing their best to figure life out.
I get it. Making sense of this thing called life has always fascinated me. Studying the brain, exploring ancient and indigenous ways of living, and working with people at key turning points – all of these help me learn.
And keep me curious. There’s so much more to understand, and I’m actively committed to doing so. This podcast is part of that adventure, so thanks for being here. And to hear a bit about how I got here, find my bio below (after some pics).
The fam, San José, CA, around 1965. That's me in the back, with braids.
My first Apple business card, 1981.
Steve Jobs (Mike Markkula in the shadows); Cupertino, CA, 1982. I think this was a celebration for Apple reaching $100 million in Apple II sales. Pic taken with film on an old Instamatic camera. Click for a story about those times... other days.
Official Apple badge, 1985 (shows my '81 start date). See that bar code? Back then that was a WOW innovation.
On the TEDx stage sharing Happiness by Design (linked to the pic).
Ink Talks, Mumbai, India, 2017.
Visual storytelling from a talk at Fifteen Seconds Festival, Austria, maybe 2017.
From LinkedIn Learning, where I shared a keynote; 2018.
Launching my book in San Francisco, 2017.
I love this mandala gifted by an audience member after a wonderful talk with architect Pamela Abalu.
This is random, yet it always makes me smile: "Alien" prickly pear cactus in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A place I love in the Land of Enchantment.
A quiet moment; pic by a talented friend.
With Alice Waters, a true hero, for an Edible Schoolyard event, 2022.
Professional Summary & Bio
An acclaimed Silicon Valley innovator, former Stanford University instructor, TEDx speaker, and published author, Ellen Petry Leanse works at the crossroads of creative and scientific inquiry.
Her career at Apple established her as a digital pioneer and the catalyst of history’s first online connection between a technology company and its users. Continuing on this course, she challenged assumptions as an entrepreneur, as a leader at Google, in venture capital, and as a global innovation advisor.
Ellen is the author of “The Happiness Hack” a neuroscience-based guide to life satisfaction, the originator of popular Stanford courses including “The Neuroscience of Creativity and Innovation,” a TEDx speaker (“Happiness by Design”), and a globally followed keynote presenter.
She contributes articles on ethics, leadership, functional neuroscience, and gender equality to publications including Huffington Post, Business Insider, Inc.com, CNBC, Self, and Women’s Health.
After leaving a C-level role at a technology company in 2022, she relocated to New Mexico to deepen her inquiry into indigenous philosophy and sustainable lifeways. During this time, her coaching practice shaped future-facing leadership for founders, C-Suite executives, non-profit leaders, and investors in the US, Europe, and the Global South.
In 2023 Ellen will launch “The Brain and Beyond,” a podcast awakening audiences to time-proven ways of leading, living, and maintaining mental wellness. She maintains an active Buddhist practice and is the mother of three adult sons.
born in Dayton, OH; raised in San Jose, CA; the third of five kids
studied International Business, Spanish, and Art History
lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 60 years before moving to New Mexico
loves speaking Spanish and tries her best in French
