The Founder’s Story

For more than two decades, Elisabeth Leach has been passionate about one thing: helping business leaders build meaningful relationships that drive long-term success.

As Founder and CEO of the Pittsburgh Business Collective, Elisabeth has created one of the region's largest executive business communities by reimagining what professional networking can be. Her philosophy is simple: the strongest business relationships are built through authentic conversations, intentional introductions, and exceptional experiences—not massive events or transactional exchanges.

Before founding the Pittsburgh Business Collective, Elisabeth spent 13 years as Head of Marketing and Business Development at one of the nation's Top 100 CPA firms. There, she led the firm's sales and marketing strategy, coached partners and professionals on relationship development, and became one of the first non-CPA partners in Pennsylvania and among the first in the country.

Working alongside executives, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders gave Elisabeth a unique perspective on how successful business relationships are built. She recognized that while many organizations offered networking opportunities, few intentionally created environments where meaningful connections could develop naturally.

That realization inspired the launch of the Pittsburgh Business Collective in 2020.

Today, the Collective represents more than 400 member companies and has become known for bringing together business owners and senior corporate leaders through thoughtfully designed events, strategic introductions, and elevated experiences. Under Elisabeth's leadership, the organization has expanded into Scottsdale, Arizona, while remaining committed to its founding mission of creating a highly personalized member experience.

Beyond her work with the Collective, Elisabeth is passionate about giving back to the community. She proudly serves as an Executive Ambassador for the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign in Greater Pittsburgh and believes that strong businesses have a responsibility to strengthen the communities they serve.

"Business has always been about people. When you bring the right people together in the right environment, meaningful opportunities naturally follow." ~ Elisabeth Leach