Aminah Elster
Founder and Principal
Aminah Elster is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Proximate Strategies Consulting (PSC), a research and evaluation firm dedicated to supporting the leadership and professional development of formerly incarcerated and system-impacted professionals through applied research, organizational strategy, leadership development, culture change, and healing-centered coaching.
In addition to coaching, PSC partners with clients to deliver:
- Research – Using rapid ethnographic approaches, surveys, and participatory methods, PSC uncovers the real-world needs, preferences, behaviors, and lived experiences of communities, ensuring strategies are grounded in evidence and equity.
- Evaluation – Applying research and evaluation practices to help organizations clarify their theory of change, assess readiness, integrate proven methods, and understand their impact — with an emphasis on learning, improvement, and advancing social equity.
Aminah is also the creator of the Transformative Investing Institute, providing formerly
incarcerated professionals with access to high-quality training, strategic tools, and investment in
their growth. In addition, Aminah is the co-founder and Executive Director of Unapologetically HERS, a pioneering organization committed to empowering incarcerated individuals in CA Women’s prisons. UAHERS equips incarcerated leaders with essential skills and tools to become proficient community researchers, consultants, and advocates, driving systems change from within. Aminah’s latest venture includes co-founding Potted Path, a plant and accessories shop designed to inspire mindfulness, creativity, and personal growth. Born from a shared love of plants and a vision for creating healing spaces, Potted Path blends nature, intentional design, and self-care into every product.
Other Contributions
Safety & Justic Challenge
Deepening Partnerships between People with Lived Experiences of Incarceration and System Leaders
InQuest
Reclaiming Health Worthiness
Lumina Foundation
Normalizing opportunity
