Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Ecklin.
Hi Emma, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up with my hair in a helmet and dirt on my boots, traveling most weekends to horse shows instead of sleepovers. As a competitive equestrian, discipline and drive were second nature to me. Being an athlete wasn’t something I chose — it was just who I was. But somewhere between high school and adulthood, I lost that version of myself. Life got louder, priorities shifted, and I forgot what it felt like to move with purpose.
Then, during college, I lost my mom — and with her, a sense of direction. The grief cracked something open in me (as it does for anyone…), and I was left searching for anything that could help me feel grounded again. That’s when I found running. At first, a way to cope with the pandemic. Not for medals or miles — but to move through the emotions both stubborn grief and isolation gave me.
I did not know it then, but one foot in front of the other, I slowly began rebuilding a relationship with myself — one rooted in resilience rather than performance.
Over time, running became more than just movement. It became my mirror, my motivator, my morning therapist. It taught me that strength isn’t about how fast or far you go — it’s about showing up for yourself when it would be easier not to. And it was through that lens that A Graceful Stride was born — a space where I share stories, reflections, and reminders that grace and grit can coexist.
Today, I speak to a community of high-functioning, growth-driven women who are often “the strong ones” in their circles — the overthinkers, the achievers, the ones who carry a lot, quietly. Through writing, running, and real conversations, my mission is to remind them (and myself) that we don’t have to hustle our way into worthiness — sometimes the most powerful strides are the ones we take inward.
This story is still unfolding, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we’re allowed to evolve. To return to parts of ourselves we thought were lost. To run toward the version of us we’re still becoming — with intention, with heart, and yes, with grace.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not smooth — but meaningful? Absolutely.
I think the hardest part of my journey hasn’t been external challenges, but internal ones. Losing my mom during college shattered the framework I had built my life around. I was the overachiever, the one who always had a plan, the athlete who thrived on structure. Grief stripped all of that away. It forced me to re-evaluate who I was without someone cheering me on from the sidelines.
After that, I spent a few years in what I now call “functional chaos.” On the outside, I looked like I had it all together — I was finishing college, working full-time, posting as a fitness trainer turned wellness girlie, traveling, training for races, trying to make new friends and build a life that looked good on paper. But inside, I was constantly negotiating with my own mind. I didn’t know how to rest without guilt. I confused burnout with boredom. And I kept producing and posting and pushing, hoping that eventually the noise would go quiet — that achievement would somehow make me feel better.
And then came the self-doubt. The “who am I to be sharing this?” The comparison to others who seemed to grow their platforms overnight. The fear that I was too much, or not enough, all at once. When you’re building something personal — a brand, a voice, a mission — it’s incredibly easy to get caught up in what you think people want from you and forget why you started in the first place.
That’s been one of my biggest lessons: stay close to your why. For me, A Graceful Stride isn’t about being perfect or polished — it’s about being present. It’s about showing up for the messy middle. It’s about telling the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, because someone else might be quietly navigating the same thing.
So no, it hasn’t been easy — but every struggle has added depth to the story I’m telling and the community I’m building. I’ve learned that grace isn’t about being soft — it’s about staying grounded in who you are, even when it’s hard to see the path forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit — the type that’s less about building a business just to scale and more about building something that means something. That energy has shaped everything I do, both inside and outside my 9-to-5.
By day, I work full-time in the world of brand strategy and business growth. I get to help entrepreneurs and companies bring their vision to life — and what I’ve learned is this: your professional environment matters more than most people admit. Who you work with, how you feel doing it, and whether you’re growing in the process — all of that becomes part of your identity.
I feel incredibly grateful to work for a company and with a team that doesn’t just tolerate entrepreneurial thinking — they empower it. I’m surrounded by smart, supportive people who believe in collaboration and creativity, and who recognize that we’re all more than our job titles.
Outside of work, I channel my energy into A Graceful Stride — a platform and storytelling brand that explores the intersection of movement, mindset, and mental resilience. What sets me apart, I think, is my ability to blend depth and relatability — to take the tough stuff and turn it into something thoughtful, even hopeful. Whether I’m writing about grief, running, burnout, or confidence, I try to meet people when they feel a little stuck — and offer them a reflection, a reminder, or just a reason to keep going.
What I’m most proud of? That I am building a career where I don’t have to choose between being creative and being strategic. That I can be deeply invested in my full-time role and still create something of my own. And that along the way, I’ve surrounded myself with people who believe in my potential, even on the days I’m still figuring it out myself.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m a bit of a sponge — I love anything that helps me reflect deeper or think differently. Whether it’s a podcast on mental resilience, a book that makes me cry on a plane, or an Instagram post that snaps me back to center, I gravitate toward content that’s both introspective and empowering.
Podcasts like Hurdle by Emily Abbate and Working Hard, Hardly Working by Grace Beverley are mainstays in my rotation. Both speak honestly about ambition, burnout, self-worth, and wellness in a way that feels personal and practical.
I also love following founders like Elizabeth Stein of Purely Elizabeth and Nicole from @nobread — not just because I’ve been a fan of their products for years, but because I admire the way they’ve built brands with substance, clarity, and heart.
When it comes to books, I read a mix of fiction and nonfiction — anything that challenges how I see the world or myself. A few that have stuck with me:
— Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton – for its wit, nostalgia, and emotional honesty.
— Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid – for the questions it asks about identity, legacy, and grit.
— Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – for every woman who’s ever been underestimated.
— The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – for the quiet reflection it invites about regret and choice.
— The Defining Decade by Meg Jay – for the reminders that your 20s do matter, and there’s power in being intentional.
— The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler – for the empowering reframes I didn’t know I needed.
— Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by Napoleon Hill – an old-school mindset staple.
— Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg – for practical insights on what it means to really listen and connect.
Whether it’s a sentence that lingers or a story that mirrors a version of myself I’m still growing into, I’m drawn to content that doesn’t just inspire — it invites you to evolve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmagecklin.substack.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagecklin/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-ecklin-35323b171/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emmagecklin
