Throughout her career, Erica’s work has proven that personal branding, effective communication and online community management can spark connections, productive conversations, and meaningful industry change.
1) What is your morning routine?
Regardless of where my mornings start on any given day, it usually begins before the sun with a hot cup of coffee and a “let’s do this” attitude.
Some weekday,s I will wake up as early as 4:45 to run with a local running club and get my workout done for the day.
Weekends are very similar with Saturdays dedicated to a long bike ride with my triathlon team and Sundays commited to a long run with my local running club.
Other weekdays when I am not running or riding my bike, I will wake up early and set up my day ahead with my to-do list, a meditation or walk, or I will enjoy socialising with my partner over a cup of coffee in our living room.
On the occasion that my youngest son is in the hospital, I will start my day similarly with a cup of coffee, but will visit with the physicans and nurses about the plan for the day.
2) What technology could you not live without?
My phone truly is a window to the world and is how I coordinate care for my youngest, communicate with my partner, keep an eye on my home, stay up to date with my work and continue learning.
In terms of digital tools, I couldn’t live without my time tracking software and this is for more than just billing for client work. I use it rather creatively for organising my schedule, and also for auditing my time and validating the effort and energy spent coordinating care.
3) How do you relax?
Two ways I relax are by focusing excess energy on training for Ironman triathlons and generating energy through the creative arts, including painting, drawing and singing.
4) Which quote resonates with you?
One of my all-time favorite quotes has lingered in my mind over the years. I discovered it when I was a teenager and wrote it on the whiteboard in my bedroom.
“People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.” – Ramona L. Anderson
5) What is the best thing about your job?
When I think about my work, I am committed to three areas of development:
As a communications professional, I love that I am able to support leaders that are making the world a better place, especially in healthcare.
As a non-profit leader, I am humbled and honored to lead an organisation that is having a measurable positive impact on health outcomes.
And most importantly, as a mother (a very important job!), I love that I have an opportunity to raise two young men that will shape our future and hopefully make the world a better place for everyone.
6) If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes, whose would they be and why?
I would spend the day in my youngest son’s shoes so I can better support his medical needs and overall, be a better Mom.
7) What is the one thing that we are not talking about?
The value and impact of human and social capital.
As a society, we skirt around those topics often – I think it part because they can be exceptionally challenging to articulate. How would one even begin to describe that value of the wisdom their grandparent shares with them over tea or what they learn from working with preschoolers?
But, those interactions hold tremendous value. And, because we don’t address them head on, more often than not we miss the mark on many things.
8) Would you rather travel 100 years forward or back in time?
If I had to choose, I would travel into the future 100 years. I’m a futurist at heart and I remain optimistic that there’s a world and universe ahead of us in time that is better for all. I’m hopeful that 100 years from today things will be better than they are right now.
9) What advice would you give to 18-year-old you (and would you have listened to you!)?
I would tell myself at 18-years-old to learn how to say ‘no’ and that you don’t need people to like you to be respected or make a positive impact on the world.
I’ve learned over the years that confidence is built by telling people ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ and living with the natural consequences of those decisions.
I likely wouldn’t have listened to that advice when I was younger, but if I had a respectable example to look to that said ‘no’ well, I may have learned that earlier than I did.
10) What is your biggest regret?
Truly, I try not to live life with regrets. Where I am today is no mistake and is absolutely the culmination of my life’s experiences.
That said, I do regret not having better boundaries when I was younger. Had I practiced that more when I was younger, it would have saved me many mistakes and a lot of heartache.
