I'm Ellen Donnelly and I am the Founder of The Ask® where I offer certified coaching to founders building new businesses, seeking clarity and direction in the process.
Before launching The Ask I was the Head of Talent at startup accelerators and VC-backed tech companies and exec recruiting. I support startups as a coach and talent consultant and I love nothing more than figuring out how people tick and guiding them to choose the right career path for them. In entrepreneurial environments, there is no set path to follow. This is why I built The Ask® and trained as an executive coach as it comes down to asking the right questions.
These questions are designed to help founders build businesses as unique as they are. My coaching is for new business owners seeking clarity in their unique vision, mission, and purpose. This comes by first understanding themselves.
I've learned some foundational truths in my work:
Clarity precedes confidence, which creates momentum Until you are clear on WHAT you are building and what goals to pursue, you will struggle to find confidence in your decisions and direction, then overthink and procrastinate
Your WHY should stay the same but your HOW will shift Most founders have a vision for their business but are unclear on the steps to take in the process. Coaching can help you stay the course through the bumpy (and often lonely) ride of figuring this stuff out.
Build a business aligned to your values, strengths, and purpose When there are so many directions to choose from, working on something you are uniquely placed to solve in the world is critical to drown out the noise and stay in your lane.
I look forward to answering your questions about the early stages of company building, knowing which business to build, and creating the right conditions to bring your best self, skills, and talent to the table in your journey.
Join me for a conversation (in writing) in the next hour. Post your questions below 👇
Hi Ellen! Thanks for making the time. Currently toying with different business ideas in the healthcare space but worried about that elusive founder market fit. Do you have any tips to help someone figure out which business to build?
For anyone in the community exploring some of these deeper questions who would like to discuss on a 1-1 basis feel free to book a time in with me for a quick chat here https://bit.ly/ellen-theask-30min or drop me a note in Slack!
Hi Ellen! Love this. I'm currently in VC but thinking about a move into being a founder myself. After being on the funder side of the table for so long, I'm having trouble committing to one idea. Any advice for how to... well... start? Taking the first few steps seems particularly scary for someone who hasn't been an operator before (or at least in a really long time).
I have an idea for a tech business but I’m non-technical. I’m keen to go it alone but wondering if I should try and find a tech co-founder at an early stage instead?
Hi Ellen! Thanks for making the time. Currently toying with different business ideas in the healthcare space but worried about that elusive founder market fit. Do you have any tips to help someone figure out which business to build?
For anyone in the community exploring some of these deeper questions who would like to discuss on a 1-1 basis feel free to book a time in with me for a quick chat here https://bit.ly/ellen-theask-30min or drop me a note in Slack!
Hi all 👋 excited to chat about any of above, I'll be here answering questions over the next hour!
Hi Ellen! Love this. I'm currently in VC but thinking about a move into being a founder myself. After being on the funder side of the table for so long, I'm having trouble committing to one idea. Any advice for how to... well... start? Taking the first few steps seems particularly scary for someone who hasn't been an operator before (or at least in a really long time).
Hi Ellen,
I have an idea for a tech business but I’m non-technical. I’m keen to go it alone but wondering if I should try and find a tech co-founder at an early stage instead?
Thanks