Women’s History Month Feature
PaSH Magazine is celebrating Women’s History Month with a Q&A style mini-series highlighting women from many different industries making an impact in the world, their communities and for themselves. In this Q&A we will spend time with Elle McGhee.
Meet Elle McGhee
Elle McGhee is a real-estate developer, investor, and mentor based in Atlanta, Georgia. As the creator of the Soil to Sold™ System, she teaches investors how to move from concept to completion—buying land, building new construction, and generating profit within 90 days. Through her frameworks, Elle empowers entrepreneurs to build generational wealth, leverage credit, and scale their real-estate portfolios with confidence.
What inspired you to start your business, and what problem did you feel called to solve?
What inspired me was seeing how many people wanted to invest in real estate but felt completely locked out of the process. People were being told they needed perfect credit, huge amounts of money, or years of experience before they could even think about developing property. I knew that wasn’t true because I was figuring it out myself in real time.
I started my business to remove the confusion and the gatekeeping around real estate development. I wanted to show people that you can go from soil to sold—from owning land to building and selling property—if you understand the steps and have the right guidance. My mission became helping everyday people see that development isn’t just for big corporations or wealthy investors.
Can you take us back to the moment you knew entrepreneurship was the path for you?
There wasn’t one single moment—it was a series of moments where I realized I didn’t want to build someone else’s dream forever. I wanted ownership. I wanted to create opportunities for my family and for other people.
Once I started completing projects and seeing what was possible with real estate—buying land, building homes, creating housing for communities—I knew this was bigger than just a job. Entrepreneurship gave me the ability to build wealth, create impact, and help other people do the same.
How did you identify your niche, and what made you confident it was worth building around?
My niche really revealed itself through the work I was already doing. I was actively developing properties, navigating permits, working with contractors, and figuring out how to take projects from land to finished homes.
What I realized was that most people were stuck before they even got to that point. They didn’t understand land acquisition, how to structure deals, how to build a team, or how to move a project forward.
Once I started teaching people the process step by step, I saw how powerful it was. That’s when I built my framework around development—helping people understand how to go from soil to sold.
What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced in the early stages, and how did you navigate them as a woman founder?
One of the biggest obstacles was credibility. Real estate development is still a male-dominated industry, and sometimes people assume you don’t understand construction, financing, or the technical side of projects.
I had to learn quickly, ask questions, and stay in rooms where I wasn’t always expected to be. I also had to develop confidence in my own voice and decisions.
Over time, results speak louder than opinions. When you’re completing projects and building properties, people start to see the work.
How did you fund your business in the beginning, and what lessons did you learn about money, access, or bootstrapping along the way?
In the beginning, it was a mix of learning how to leverage credit, partnerships, and creative financing. I didn’t come from a place where large amounts of capital were readily available, so I had to understand how to structure deals and use resources wisely.
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that access to capital is often about knowledge and relationships. Once you understand how to position your business and communicate your vision clearly, opportunities start to open up.
Were there moments when you doubted yourself, and what helped you push through those periods?
Absolutely. Entrepreneurship will test your confidence more than anything else. There are moments when deals fall apart, timelines shift, or you’re carrying a lot of responsibility.
What helped me push through was remembering the bigger vision. I wasn’t just building projects—I was building a platform that could help other people create opportunities for themselves and their families.
That perspective kept me moving forward even during the hard seasons.
How has your identity as a woman influenced the way you lead, build, and make decisions?
Being a woman in this space has made me very intentional about how I lead and how I build community. I care deeply about collaboration, mentorship, and creating environments where people feel supported while they’re learning.
I also understand the importance of representation. When women see other women developing property, raising capital, and leading projects, it expands what they believe is possible for themselves.
Who or what inspired you during the hardest moments of your journey?
My family has always been a big source of motivation for me. Wanting to create generational opportunities and stability keeps me focused.
I’m also inspired by other entrepreneurs and builders who have created something from nothing. Seeing what’s possible when people stay committed to their vision is incredibly motivating.
What has been the most unexpected lesson entrepreneurship has taught you so far?
One of the biggest lessons is that entrepreneurship is as much about personal growth as it is about business growth. You’re constantly evolving, learning, and adjusting.
The more you grow as a person—your mindset, discipline, and resilience—the more your business grows as well.
What advice would you give to women who feel called to start a business but are waiting for the “right” time?
The truth is, the “right” time rarely shows up perfectly. If you feel called to build something, start where you are with what you have.
You don’t need every answer in the beginning. You just need the willingness to learn, take action, and stay consistent. Every successful business starts with someone deciding to move forward before everything feels certain.
Thank you for reading the fifth installment of the Women’s History Month Features. Come back each day to read a new inspiring story, centering women.
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