Founder & Owner | Advisor, Entrepreneur, Women’s Empowerment Coach

Meet Bre!

 

Brianna “Bre” Russell is a dynamic entrepreneur and business advisor, passionate about empowering women and girls to reach new heights. As the founder of Girls Leading Goals and FemThrive, Bre helps women scale their businesses without burning out, while fostering communities of support and growth.

Bre’s journey began in a small town in northern California where she discovered her superpower: turning ideas into impactful initiatives. From running a house painting business at age 20 to advising on community projects in the South Pacific in Vanuatu as a Peace Corps volunteer, Bre has an undeniable gift for turning ideas into reality. Bre’s unique approach combines business strategy with personal growth, making her an inspiring leader and mentor. She holds a B.S. in Business, Masters in International Studies, an Executive Coaching Certification from the World Coaching Institute, and a U.S. Soccer Coaching License.

Bre loves to build, design, guide, and nurture visions, ideas, programs, organizations, communities and people. Her specialties include: service based businesses, sports, youth programs, wellness, women owned businesses, pets and animals, and nonprofits. When she’s not building businesses, she’s investing in professional soccer teams, adventuring outdoors, or enjoying a glass of Pinot and a good laugh.

Her clients have shared that she provides a space that is both strategic and supportive. Bre has helped dozens of founders grow without burnout by aligning financial clarity with scalable strategy. On average, her clients see a 43% increase in revenue and 65% jump in profit within 12 months.

From Goal Getter to Goal-Leader

Bre’s journey began in the not-so-bustling small town of Fairfield, CA, where she discovered her superpower: turning ideas into impactful initiatives. 

Her friends and family often joke that she could probably start a successful business in her sleep. And honestly, they might be right.

As the mastermind behind Girls Leading Goals, Bre helps young girls realize that they can be leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. Think of her as the fairy godmother of leadership, but instead of a wand, she wields an impressive resume and a knack for motivating others.

The Birth of 

Never one to rest on her laurels, Bre launched FemThrive in 2018, for women entrepreneurs. FemThrive is a Women Entrepreneurs Collective where women gain wisdom, a network, tactics and, of course, celebrate each other's successes with a glass of wine or two. FemThrive offers 1:1 Business Advising with Bre, Hands-On down in the dirt Fractional Operations Leadership, Annual Retreats/Events/Workshops, DIFY Implementation services, and a community Membership. All for Women, By Women! 

Let’s face it- Entrepreneurship is hard, lonely, and a 24/7 gig. It is also our ticket to FREEDOM. Freedom in time, money, and creativity. There is no glass ceiling for business owners paving their own way to success.

And for those of you who like credentials here are her accomplishments…

Her first business was running a house painting gig at age 20. After learning that painting houses was not her passion but entrepreneurship was her calling, she went to Vanuatu in the South Pacific for two years as a Peace Corps Small Business Advisor. There she and another volunteer started a community income generating project for the women in their village called A Basket for Change and also started the first Women’s Regional Soccer team (listen to her incredible Peace Corps experience here on this podcast episode) or watch her feature video from Hudl here, read about her as a Success Magazine 2023 Women of Influence Award Winner, or enjoy this local shout out from the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Upon returning and finishing her Master’s in International Studies at University of San Francisco, she started Girls Leading Girls, the nonprofit arm of Girls Leading Goals. From there, she earned continued education certifications from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Cornell University in Social Entrepreneurship and Financing.

In 2020, she was inspired by other women entrepreneurs sharing their business challenges and seeking her out for advice that she started FemThrive as a coaching firm. She holds an Executive Coaching Certification from World Coach Institute and is a Certified Business Advisor with Cultivate Advisors.

In 2024, Bre sold her for profit business, Girls Leading Goals, and started a new chapter of going all in on empowering women through FemThrive.

Inspired by her passion for soccer and entrepreneurship she continues to pay it forward as a private equity investor in the Oakland Roots & Soul professional soccer teams.


Fun Facts About Bre

  • Master Multitasker: Bre can juggle a conference call, a strategy session, and a latte all at the same time. Seriously, it's like watching a magician at work.

  • Fire Whisperer: She’s known to have an orange thumb and can build even the most vibrant fire on an island of humidity– a skill that somehow translates perfectly into empowering new entrepreneurs.

  • Laugh Enthusiast: Bre’s love for a good silent, stomach-aching laugh is legendary. If you ever see her crying from laughter at a FemThrive event, you can bet she is in pure bliss.

  • Adventure Seeker: When she’s not busy breaking glass ceilings, you can find her scaling mountains, exploring new cities, or trying out the latest fitness craze – all with her signature enthusiasm and a huge smile.

Meet the DIFY Implementer Team


  • Admin Assistant

    Kimberly Lewis is a self-described professional problem solver. After studying Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas, she began a career in Tech. Kim has held roles as a Product Owner and Business Analyst aiding high functioning development teams on projects ranging from EHR Systems to Workforce Productivity Solutions. When not using her skills to provide creative solutions for Femthrive™ or fulfilling the role of designated tech support for her family, you can find her whipping up a new dish from Chef John's Food Wishes blog.

  • Admin & Marketing Assistant

    Lauren has a passion for bringing ideas to life. After graduating from and teaching at San Diego State University with both a Bachelor's and Master's in Sociology, Lauren began her career in event coordination and production. Lauren's professional experience is robust; she has helped to produce and execute professional and academic conferences, weddings, and non-profit events.

    While not supporting managing FemThrive's website or coordinating retreats, you can find Lauren at a yoga class, on a hike, or enjoying delicious meals with her friends and family.