Topic:
Embodied Leadership: Moving From Reactive Management

Keynote description:

In this transformative keynote, Erica guides participants on a journey from old-paradigm leadership to a more authentic, embodied approach. Through powerful storytelling and real-life examples, Erica illustrates the profound shift that occurs when leaders engage in regulated, attuned communication—demonstrating how this practice fosters deeper connections and has tangible physiological effects on the nervous system.

Erica outlines the neuroscience of the vagus nerve and the fight/flight/freeze response. We dive into how cognitive understanding is insufficient when it comes to communication and leadership. For example, we can know some effective communication strategies, but if we are dysregulated and inauthentic, other people’s nervous systems can tell, even on a subconscious level. The vagus nerve connects our brainstem to our gut; it doesn’t connect to the frontal lobes, so in many ways, it doesn’t matter what we know. Becoming an embodied leader means we can stay in challenging conversations while still maintaining safety and connection.

We explore how we not only have individual nervous systems but collective nervous systems. This keynote is rich with experiential, somatic-based practices designed to help leaders tap into the wisdom of their bodies and create a culture of safety and attunement for their teams to do the same. Participants will learn how to stay calm under pressure, lead with empathy, and maintain an empowered presence even in difficult situations. Erica outlines the difference between toxic shame and effective accountability, which creates a culture rooted in a growth mindset where honest feedback is safe to give and receive. We explore things like getting consent for feedback and taking both/and approaches in order to foster a more innovative and accountable environment.



Participants will learn
* How the nervous system impacts leadership, decision-making, and team dynamics.
* Science-backed nervous system regulation strategies to help leaders foster calm and clarity
* Steps of effective accountability vs. toxic shame
* How to give direct and honest feedback, while still keeping relationships with team members intact.
* How to have values-led teams rooted in equity, joy, accountability, and innovation




Topic:
From Self-Protection to Open-Hearted and Empowered: How Trauma-Informed Practice Can Create Lasting Transformation

Keynote description:
In this powerful keynote, participants will go from a state of self-protection to one of open-hearted empowerment. Through engaging storytelling, cutting-edge research, and experiential practices, this session unpacks the impact of trauma on individuals and organizations and offers transformative approaches for healing and growth.
Erica pulls from her 15 years of expertise as a trauma-recovery specialist to outline the basics of polyvagal theory and how trauma impacts the brain and body. Erica explores the vagus nerve and how it is involved in 75% of nervous system regulation, which means we have to move beyond cognitive knowing.

Erica offers a dynamic definition what trauma-informed practice and what it includes. She explores the importance of boh/and approaches with things like practicing compassion and healthy boundaries, validating the impact of trauma and making room for resiliency and strength, and practicing humility and confidence. Erica gives examples of how to create safety, restorative practices, and powerful nervous system regulation practices that can be used individually and collectively.

Erica draws on the wisdom of evidence-based therapies like Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and polyvagal theory to help your organization deepen its awareness of how we can help our clients, patients, and teams transform from self-protection to embodied, empathic, and empowered.

Erica takes an emergent approach to keynotes, and presentations are always customized for the organization's needs.

Participants will learn:
* The science of trauma and how it affects both individuals and organizations.
* How trauma-informed approaches can facilitate deep healing and personal transformation for individuals and organizations.
* How to integrate nervous system regulation techniques into daily life and team interactions.