Chelsea Strong, 39
CEO | ROI ByDesign
Founder & CEO | ConnectHER
Founder & CEO | Ascend Equity
What challenges have you overcome to get here today?
Early in my real estate career, I lost $100K straight out of my savings account. It was a painful, very real lesson — but it forced me to get disciplined fast, ask better questions and stop relying on assumptions. That experience shaped how I approach risk, underwriting and strategy today, and it’s a big reason I’m so focused on making thoughtful, informed decisions that hold up over the long term.
What’s after 40? What do you see in your future?
What’s after 40 for me is to scale with intention — continue on building businesses, teams and investments that last and create real impact. I see a future where I continue to grow as an owner and operator, expand the reach of education and mentorship through ConnectHER, and use the platform I’ve built to reinvest in people and communities in meaningful ways. Less noise, more legacy.
