ABOUT ERICA
The "Official" Bio...
Erica Golden, MA, SPHR, CCC is an Executive Coach, Career Consultant, and Author of the upcoming NOW-TO-NEXT: Navigating Your Next Steps for the Future of Work©, and RESUMES THAT HACK THE JOB HUNT: Write Resumes That Get Results Right Now©, and
Erica is a VP at a SparkEffect, a global Coaching and Leadership Development firm. She also has 15+ years of experience in consulting + HR at Silicon Valley start-ups, global enterprises, and F100 firms; and has coached 5,000+ professionals.
She holds a M.A. in Career Development from J.F.K.U. School of Management, B.A. in Psychology from U.C.S.C, a Senior Professional in Human Resources (S.P.H.R.) Certification, and is a Certified Career Coach.
As an acknowledged thought leader in AI, HR Tech, Coaching and expertise with the trends in today's employment market, Erica helps organizations, teams, and individuals learn, launch and thrive in the modern world of work. She's been called the "Career Coach for the New Economy" and is frequently requested as a presenter on subjects related to AI and the Future of Work. Her work has also appeared in online publications such as Skilled Up, The San Jose Mercury News, College Recruiter, IACET, and The Staffing Stream.
Erica lives in the heart of Silicon Valley, and when she’s not coaching, writing, podcasting, and speaking about the "future of work," or spending time with family, she loves to “geek-out” with the latest innovations transforming the world of work today.
The "Inside Scoop" version...
Do you know what really makes me an authority on navigating the modern world of work?
Beyond the professional credentials, degrees and certifications, I’m also an expert on employment because during the course of my early career, I discovered a key ingredient to the “secret sauce" of finding and landing new work…f-a-s-t. Soon, being able to land new gigs quickly became my claim to fame.
In fact, my early resume includes jobs:
--teaching science and math to at-risk teens
--hiring contract workers for companies ranging from candy factories to "cubicle farms"
--handling customer service complaints in a large call center
--driving a big yellow school bus up and down the west coast
--leading sales trainings and in-store “ambush makeovers” at malls
--designing and deploying complex IT systems with Big 5 firms
--staffing international F500s in hyper-growth + Silicon Valley start-ups in launch-mode
I was successful at all of this and more (okay, not so much with the double-clutch on the school bus!) but when it was time to move on, I was ready to find the next opportunity—and mastered the art of finding them fast.
I also understand quite personally that not all job changes are voluntary. I’ve experienced what it’s like to come to work one day and discover that my company is closing and sending jobs thousands of miles away.
I’ve also been the one who has handed workers their pink slips, or walked laid-off employees out the door carrying their small cardboard box of belongings.
Believe me when I say that I understand what working professionals go through from every angle.
I’ve been out of work and overworked.
I’ve been the person on both sides of the interview desk.
I’ve done the hiring and I’ve done the firing.
Through it all, I learned the secrets of how hiring really happens, and the Art + Science of hacking the job hunt.
Now, I'm committed to teaching you to do the same.
Having worked with several thousand of individuals, from executives to on-rampers to assembly line workers, my clients know I will meet them wherever they are. I’ve been in (many of) their shoes--from Payless to Prada, as well as a pair of flip flops. As a result, I developed my tools and techniques that are equally effective for new graduates, seasoned professionals, and those in the C-suite.
Bottom line, my streamlined systems and techniques make discovering your next steps and finding work that fits you, both fun + easy-to-do for anyone.
Ultimately, my goal is straightforward & simple...I’m on a mission to help everyone navigate the waves of change at work, and expand employability for all. I want to scale the number of people empowered, energized, and even enjoying the experience of navigating their next steps at work successfully.
I can help you too, and I'll walk you through it, step-by-step.
I'm here to help.
A few fun facts...
Best cup of coffee I've ever had was in San Juan, PR in a cafe--Darth Vader was there too.
I'm a twin. Not identical. Not fraternal. Simply sororal. Yep. It's a thing.
I'm in the heart of Silicon Valley, so Google self-driving test cars go by my house frequently. Like, a LOT. I can't wait until one is mine. Look, no hands!
I'm obsessed with podcasts. Really. Obsessed. I'm always learning something amazing that leads to another "aha!"
I believe that we're all here to help each other. End of story. Drop the mic.
Now it's your turn...I'd love to hear from you. Give me a shout out on my Social Media links below, and I'll look forward to connecting with you!
