About PokerDivas

Level Up Your Leadership and Negotiation Skills with Poker Strategies

Did you know that you’ve been playing poker your whole life even if you’ve never played a hand of cards? It’s not about gambling, it’s about building confidence, learning to read people, becoming a better negotiator, and being assertive and bold.

At PokerDivas, everyone is invited to take a seat at the table. We empower professionals to lead, negotiate, and communicate with confidence using the principles of poker—not as a game of chance, but as a strategic tool for business and life. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or have never touched a deck of cards, PokerDivas teaches you to play to win where it matters most: in the boardroom, the conference room, and beyond.

PokerDivas™ programs are designed to make you bold, assertive, and strategic. The skills you’ll gain—reading people, making confident decisions, and negotiating fearlessly—are the very same that have helped tens of thousands of professionals achieve greater success.

Imagine mastering the art of the bluff, knowing when to fold, and when to go all in—not at a casino, but in your next big meeting or salary negotiation. PokerDivas isn’t about gambling. It’s about equipping you with the tools to confidently navigate the professional world. You’ll quickly see how poker strategy can improve business outcomes, foster team collaboration, and inject a sense of excitement into your career.

We’ve seen first-hand how these skills close the pay gap, build stronger leaders, and transform careers. At PokerDivas, we believe in creating a level playing field where everyone has a shot at the pot.

Poker Divas is closing the pay gap one hand at a time. It’s a win-win for everyone.We guarantee it.

About PokerDivas Founder Ellen Leikind

Ellen Leikind is an entrepreneur, corporate innovator, published author, and creator of PokerDivas. Her mission: to show how you can win in life and business using the strategies of poker even if you have never played the game.

A senior marketing executive who launched over a billion dollars in health and beauty products, Ellen was intrigued when poker began to rival golf as a form of corporate networking and she saw the strong parallels among the strategies of poker, business, and life itself.

In 2006, Ellen founded PokerDivas, a company that provides corporate teambuilding, leadership and diversity programs. Ellen is the author of POKERWOMAN: How to Win at Love, Life, and Business using the Principles of Poker. She has written on gender issues in business for Parade.com and has been featured on CNBC, Forbes,com, Newsday, and Success magazine.

Ms. Leikind has worked at several Fortune 500 companies including Pfizer and L’Oreal; and was an Executive Consultant for the Direct Response infomercial industry. She has an MBA in marketing from Fordham University, a certificate from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion and is a native New Yorker and avid dog lover.

Discover Ellen’s inspiration behind PokerDivas!

I had no idea a deck of cards would shape my career. As an only child I played cards with my mom after school. Mostly Poker. I did not realize it at the time, but the game teaches so many life skills.

Fast forward to my corporate career in the Fortune 500. I got tired of seeing women, including myself not get what they were worth. I started playing more poker recreationally and noticed that poker was more than just a game—it was a powerful networking tool, akin to golf. The strategies used in poker mirrored those in the corporate world, especially in deal negotiations.

In 2006, after a one-year sabbatical from my dynamic but draining career, I decided to take the entrepreneurial leap and merge my childhood poker know-how with the strategic insights I gained in the corporate arena. This fusion led to the creation of PokerDivas. Fueled by my passion for empowering women, I was determined to help them claim their worth without guilt or fear, using the very game that epitomized male dominance.

Everyone is welcome at the table at PokerDivas.