Meet Elizabeth Pehrson of The Exchange GA in North Metro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Pehrson.

Elizabeth, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a heart for women. And I have been involved with many different women’s organizations. But years ago I felt compelled to create a safe space for women to examine their current lives and speak honestly with one another about how to live their BEST lives. I wanted to offer a forum for women to live their lives on purpose and with intention. Many women tend to live like ground hog’s day, on autopilot day in and day out. I wanted to encourage women to pause and give thought to the time we have.

So, in 2016 we launched our first Exchange! We have outgrown three spaces and are continuing to grow each year! We’ve encountered thousands of women and seen evidence of meaningful life change.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since its inception, much of The Exchange has been incredibly organic and has transpired naturally fueled by the sheer energy and passion of women who believe in the mission as much as I do.

But as with most things, we have had other parts of journey that have required trial and error; from becoming a non-profit out of necessity, to expanding and moving into four different locations, to becoming a ticketed event, to getting strategic about fundraising.

We have learned more from our failures than from our successes. We will keep learning, improving and growing because we believe in what we’re doing!

Please tell us about The Exchange GA.
The Exchange is a non-profit that meets monthly to inspire women to live with purpose! We EXPLORE different topics that we can use to ENRICH our minds and ENGAGE in the next best step of our lives. By being a better version of ourselves, we can be better wives, moms, friends, employees and community members. The model of The Exchange is that of a pebble tossed on the water and having a ripple effect.

We are most proud of the #exchangelifechange that we have seen in the lives of the women who have attended. We have experienced women asking tough questions for the purpose of self-discovery. Women have built enough confidence to go after their dreams and launch new businesses. We have watched marriages be restored because of the posture women have taken towards rebuilding it. We have seen forgiveness in relationships. Women have quit their jobs, landed new jobs, rediscovered their passions, quit believing lies about themselves and started living from a place where they know they are loved, worthy and enough.

What sets us apart is we intentionally created a space where women can literally show up as they are; polished or messy; happy or sad; ready or not. We ask everyone to check fears and facades at the door.  We acknowledge we are perfectly imperfect and valued. We directly name, define and tackle real struggles then encourage women to pursue the better versions of themselves.

The connection in the room is palpable…among 250 unique women!  We laugh. We cry. We celebrate. We share. We believe in one another as we are, not as the masked roles we sometimes play out in a culture that has become accustomed to curated perfection.

What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
We plan to continue growing and reaching more women through digital expansion, i.e., a podcast and content on demand while maintaining a safe, fun, real and beneficial environment locally. We are also exploring physical locations in cities across the country where women can meet face to face.

Pricing:

• Each monthly event costs $10 to attend. These are the gatherings where women connect to explore a challenging topic, enrich their minds and learn how to engage intentionally in more purposeful lives. Please go to theexchangeus.org for a calendar of events.
• We welcome Event Sponsorships for $300 that come with promotional consideration and free seating and of course, the opportunity to connect with amazing women!
• We also welcome Annual Sponsorships starting at $1,000 that come with promotional consideration, free seating, marketing opportunities to an audience of hundreds of extraordinary women!

Contact Info:

• Address: 3245 Peachtree Pkwy, Suite D – 403, Suwanee, GA 30024
• Website: theexchangeus.org
• Phone: 404-217-4061
• Email: cumminginfo@theexchangeus.org

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