Elaine dela Cruz

Co-Founder
Project 23, Coaches of Colour and Equitable Coaching Foundation

Elaine is a passionate changemaker, dedicated to driving meaningful transformation.

She is the co-founder of Project 23, a culture and DEI consultancy passionate about people, Coaches of Colour - a coaching company whose goal is to empower Black and Brown people to achieve their goals and Equitable Coaching Foundation, a non-profit that provides coaching to marginalised communities.

With over 20 years in director-level roles, she has witnessed how unequal workplaces can be and how organisations often lack the tools to address inequities. This sparked her purpose-driven journey in DEI—as a founder, consultant, ICF coach, facilitator, mentor, and speaker. Elaine believes meaningful change requires a growth mindset—learning, improving, and addressing inequalities at both systemic and interpersonal levels. Known for speaking her mind and empowering others to find their voice, she focuses on building fairer, more inclusive workplaces.

A proud first-generation Filipino-Londoner, Elaine is a single mum who embraces her identity and lived experiences, including life with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. A lover of music, trainers, and good food, she believes change can be purposeful and joyful.