Influential Woman · Arts and culture
Emily Goulding
Founder, Girasol Consulting
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Her Story
About Emily
Emily Goulding is the Founder of Girasol Consulting, a Los Angeles-based consultancy, as well as an arts and culture professional, nonprofit executive, strategist, and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience advancing mission-driven organizations. Through Girasol Consulting, she supports education, arts, and cultural institutions with resource development, strategic communications and marketing, external affairs, storytelling, partnership development, and organizational growth. Her work focuses on helping organizations effectively communicate the significance of artists, creative work, and their impact on communities.
Prior to founding Girasol Consulting, Emily served as Executive Director of Amplifier, an award-winning public arts and design lab that uses art and storytelling to advance social impact. During her tenure, she helped guide the organization through significant growth and contributed to its recognition with a Mirror Award for Innovation from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She currently serves as Director of Advancement at Self Help Graphics & Art, where she leads fundraising and communications for one of Los Angeles' most significant Latinx arts organizations.
Emily earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, with a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies, from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Master of Professional Studies in Journalism from Georgetown University. Her professional journey was shaped by an early connection to Los Angeles' vibrant arts and cultural landscape, as well as a family background that emphasized creativity, community engagement, and meaningful storytelling. Across her work as a nonprofit leader, consultant, educator, writer, and advocate, Emily remains committed to strengthening the role of arts and culture in fostering connection, civic participation, and a more vibrant society.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Emily
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the arts and culture industry is to stay connected to your “why” while remaining open to the “what.” The industry will evolve significantly throughout your career, and the ways in which you work may change many times, but your core purpose can remain constant. For me, that purpose is rooted in the belief that arts and culture connect us to ourselves and to one another while helping create a stronger, more vibrant, and more interesting society. Embrace change, remain adaptable, and stay grounded in the values and purpose that inspire you, because knowing your “why” provides clarity and direction throughout every stage of your career.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The arts and culture field is currently navigating a period of contraction following the significant surge in funding during and after the pandemic. Reduced investment, political shifts, changes to tax policies that affect charitable giving, increased competition for limited resources, and uncertainty surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in areas such as copywriting and grant writing have created new challenges for organizations. At the same time, this moment presents an opportunity for renewal and innovation. Creative constraints are encouraging organizations to rethink traditional approaches, adapt to changing circumstances, and discover new ways to remain resilient, relevant, and impactful.
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