"She Pivots," in partnership with Marie Claire, challenges the typical definition of success and explores the role our personal stories play in our professional journeys.

Elsa Collins' work is deeply influenced by her own background growing up on the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border and her experiences raising multiracial children. It is what led her from being a lawyer to a career in social impact work, including co-founding the group This is About Humanity, which raises awareness about families separated at the border.

"I really grew up on both sides of the border and went to school on both sides of the border ... I was crossing the border every day to go to school at different times in my life," Collins says on the latest She Pivots podcast.

Before becoming an Advocate, Collins attended Stanford University, where she met her future husband, Jaron Collins. When she graduated, Jaron was in his second year in the NBA, but Collins wanted to make her own way. She decided to pursue a career in law and enrolled in Columbia Law School. Despite the physical distance at the time, the two fully supported each other's careers. She says, "I think we've always made sure that the other person felt comfortable with the big decisions that they were making.

Eventually they married and had a child. This awakened Collins' passion for community organizing and led her to advocate for policies that would help children and community members thrive.

"[Raising multiracial children] really helped me hone the north star that I have," she said. 'And it's given me the opportunity to talk with kids about very important issues. My job is one of the most challenging and complex conversations I have with adults, let alone children."

During the Trump presidency, her advocacy work became even more personal as stories about family separation at the border began to hit the media. She co-founded an organization called This is About Humanity and began making regular trips to the U.S.-Mexico border, where she spent her childhood. [She has] visited families, asylum seekers, and children on the border in Tijuana, bearing witness, listening, doing community service projects, building playgrounds, painting, replacing tents in shelters in need, and everything in between," says Collins . [15] [16] Collins strongly believes that each of us has the power to make a difference in our communities. 'It's you interacting with your neighbors, your co-workers, your community,' he says. 'And I also feel that it's something we should never lose sight of. Because it feels like we're always looking around for someone else to show up to do that ...... And I think people are very surprised about the ways in which they personally can make a difference."

To hear more about Elsa's philanthropy and her experience as the spouse of an NBA star, go to.