Liana St. Bernard is the owner and founder of St. Bernard Elite, an educational consulting company launched in 2019 to help entrepreneurs and business owners create and sustain financial success. A Brooklyn native, Liana holds degrees in Business Management, Marketing, and Interior Design, and has worked in real estate, education, and entrepreneurship. Her passion for financial literacy and business education led her to develop a company that offers strategic support from a team of professionals—including lawyers, accountants, and PR experts. She is also the author of Entrepreneur’s Guide: How to Survive in a Pandemic and a vocal advocate for mental health.
Tell us about your life before the venture/ leading up to your venture?
Liana St. Bernard was born in Brooklyn, New York. She attended schools in New York City up until 9th grade. She graduated high school at the tender age of 16. She went to Clayton State University in Atlanta, Georgia and earned her Bachelor’s in Business Management with a minor in Marketing. One year later, learning her passion for Architecture and Interior Design, she obtained her Interior Design degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta. Upon graduation, she moved to California and then returned to her hometown Brooklyn, New York.
While in New York, she attended Real Estate School and acquired her real estate license. While working in real estate for two years, she discovered that so many adults were confused entirely about financial matters—credit scores, loans, interest, mortgages, and the importance of credit cards and how it affects you long-term. Some adults were even shocked that foreclosure stayed on their financial background.
While working in real estate, she decided that she wanted to work for the school system to incorporate financial literacy into the classrooms. This was her first entry into education.
As a teen, Liana was responsible for raising her little brother, and in middle school, he expressed his desire to start a clothing business. She didn’t know any business owners other than the corporations she saw on TV or food places in passing. While pursuing her college degrees, she taught her younger brother everything she learned about business, marketing, advertising, and design. Through research and connecting to the right people, her younger brother was able to register and launch his business at the tender age of 19.
At the time, Liana did not realize her younger brother was her first unofficial client, and that she would be doing this for so many others, many, many years later.
While working in education and having the opportunity to teach entrepreneurship to middle school students, she realized that there needs to be a company that educates the public on how to build their own businesses, how to succeed at these businesses and then, in the long run, create financial freedom. And that’s how St. Bernard Elite was born.
Tell us something about your organization. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
St. Bernard Elite is an educational company that helps upcoming and current business owners create, build, and maintain success in their businesses. We have a team of lawyers, accountants, finance professionals, investors, and public relations professionals that assist with every aspect of your business. We also specialize in crisis management. There is no crisis too big or too small for St. Bernard Elite. Our mission in 2019 was helping businesses acquire their first million dollars.
What has been the response of the consumers towards your venture? (Please talk about your recognitions/ achievements here)
I’ve been blessed to write an E-Book: Entrepreneur’s Guide: How to Survive in a Pandemic, which is a great ebook to use as a resource for business owners today, because much of the information still applies. I have been featured on Selfcare Talk & Wellness for Busy Women hosted by Ashley Blain, Founder & CEO of ZenLuxCo. I am a huge advocate for mental health, so that was a great experience for me and for all the customers listening, since I am normally the face behind the brand, hardly making public appearances.
St. Bernard Elite’s work speaks for itself. My biggest recognitions and achievements are checking up on my many clients post consultations and contracts, and seeing how successful they have become and the great work they are doing with their businesses and their impact.
How has your life changed because of your venture?
My life has changed because when I grew up and I wanted help on starting and building a business, we did not have any resources. Even in my first two years of business, when I would look for business assistance, there weren’t many helpful options, and I read books and studied, and became the business I needed, and was able to help so many others along the way.
What are you working on right now?
St. Bernard Elite is rebranding in a powerful way and will be doing a major relaunch this summer 2025. I don’t want to reveal too much, so please follow us on Instagram @StBernardElite and stay tuned. Great things are coming.
Give a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
One of my favorite quotes that is at the bottom of my personal email is: “An empire isn’t built in a day. It is built every day.” And if you’re like me and you want success, power, love, joy, peace in one day, in one grasp, in one big swoop—take a deep breath and understand you are doing great, you are doing wonderful, and everything you’re doing day by day is getting you closer to where you want to be. Sometimes it’s those small steps that are the most powerful. You are doing a great job. One day at a time. One moment at a time. One step at a time.
Please share your Social Links
@StBernardElite
