Drew Watkins
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Founder, ella
I’m driven to solve complex problems, the kind where customer needs, technology, and opportunity intersect. My strength lies in digging beneath the surface, uncovering what’s really at stake, and building solutions that deliver lasting value.
My career spans product strategy, service design, full-stack development, and customer experience. As a generalist, I thrive on connecting insights across disciplines, moving ideas from raw concepts to tangible outcomes. I’ve launched ventures from the ground up, run experiments to learn quickly, and shaped products by staying close to what customers truly need.
Currently, I’m leading ELLA, a venture that empowers advisors (lawyers, accountants, and exit planners) with tools to guide small business owners to successful exits. Most owners don’t get the exit they deserve. We’re changing that by helping advisors step into a more strategic role—coordinating teams, illustrating value, and helping their clients transition with clarity and confidence.
I approach every challenge with a product mindset: listening to customers, defining problems clearly, and iterating toward solutions that fit how people work. I focus on understanding real problems, not just surface-level symptoms, and building solutions that reflect how people actually work. I care about doing meaningful work with smart, accountable, highly-driven people—and building things that actually make a difference.