ERIKA SHEPARD

Erika is focused on elevating the health and well-being of people and organizations through her unique approach of optimizing the quality of our connections and relationships.

Erika Shepard is a Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about elevating the mental health of leaders, founders, and organizations through her unique approach of optimizing how we connect and relate. 

Erika is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of both Arizona State and Georgetown University, and an international speaker who has spoken on stages like TEDx. She bridges the science of her medical training with the heart of her professional and personal experiences to help elevate leaders and organizations into their highest potential.

With her unique background, she spent the first part of her career having a front row seat to human heartbreak through working as a nurse on psychiatric wards and trauma ICU units. Working with people in their most vulnerable states has shown her the power of the human heart and how, when used properly, it can be the most powerful tool we have to succeed in all aspects of our lives. Erika uses authentic connection as medicine, and is excited to be bringing her decade-plus expertise around mental health to the audiences she serves.

Speech topics

Mental Health & Leadership: Mental Health Builds Better Companies & Cultures

One in three Americans say their mental health is negatively impacted by their job. When mental health is lower in employees, this impacts productivity, innovation, efficiencies, morale, sick days, and so much more. One of the key overlooked aspects is focusing on the mental health of leadership. Erika discusses how the root of a thriving business is the optimal mental health of its leadership. Erika helps break the stigma of discussing the state of mental health in top leadership, and what leaders can do to optimize their mental health in order to optimize their organization.

THE POWER OF HUMAN CONNECTION: How Our Greatest Potential and Achievements Lies Within the Quality of Our Relationships

We have all grown up in a culture where we are taught to perform and achieve in order to reach our potential. We, as a human race, are achieving and performing more than ever through technology, science, medicine, and innovation. However, mental health is worsening, emotional well-being is sinking, loneliness is on the rise, and people are feeling disconnected from themselves and each other more than ever.

In her talk, The Power of Human Connection, Erika discusses how the key solution to improving mental and physical health outcomes is through improving the quality of our connection to one another. It is through optimizing human connection that we will have what it takes to skyrocket to our potential, achieve and perform like never before with high mental health & emotional well-being, while feeling cared for and supported by one another. In this session Erika will take attendees through a powerful journey of self-discovery through education, story, exercises, and interaction so attendees are empowered to better connect to themselves and others after leaving the session.

What You'll Uncover:

THE IMPERFECTION OF EXCELLENCE: LETTING GO OF THE PRESSURE TO PERFORM TO ACHIEVE YOUR GREATEST OUTCOMES

We live in a time of high achievement. We’re working long hours, have increased pressure to provide and perform and try to do everything “right.” With this comes a lot of pressure put on ourselves, increased stress, debilitating anxiety and lack of joy. On the outside things can seem perfect, but on the inside, we can feel like we’re falling short. So how do we achieve our best outcomes and excellence without trying to be perfect?

In this talk, Erika shares simple practices to achieve excellence while maintaining a healthy work performance and relationship with self. Now you can focus on perfection of your own inherent excellence, release the pressure to perform, and truly achieve your greatest outcomes.

What You'll Uncover:

REIGNITING THE FIRE: HOW WE CAN RECOVER FROM BURNOUT WHILE GETTING OUTCOMES WE DESIRE

We live in a time of high achievement. We’re working long hours, have increased pressure to provide and perform and try to do everything “right.” With this, there is an increasing number of people experiencing burnout. However, once burnout sets in, the demands of our jobs, our goals, and our need to produce does not subside. So how do we achieve our best outcomes and excellence while recovering and preventing burnout?

In this talk, Erika shares simple practices to achieve burnout recovery while being able to achieve the outcomes that are desired. It is possible to feel energized, recharged, relief, joy, and be able to be where you want without working harder, but smarter.

What You'll Uncover:

THERE ARE NO RULES: HOW THROWING OUT RULEBOOKS CREATES THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE LIFE YOU'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF

We have been taught formulas, strategies, and so many "how to's" on how to have a successful and a fulfilling life. However, mental health issues are on the rise, employee stress levels are at an all-time high, and we are scratching our heads with what to do next. So if how we're working isn't working, how do we move forward and where do we find answers?

In her talk, There Are No Rules, Erika discusses how to throw out the rules and "how to's" that the world has given us to find the blueprints of happiness and success for our own lives. Erika will take attendees through a powerful journey of self-discovery through education, storytelling, exercises, and interaction so attendees are empowered to better connect to their purpose and path after leaving the session.

What You'll Uncover:

WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT PRODUCTIVITY, CULTURE, AND CONNECTION FROM WORKING ON PSYCH WARDS

We are living in a time of The Great Resignation, quiet quitting, and employee stress being at an all-time high (Forbes). How do we begin to shift what's happening in corporate America?

There is hope. From my years of working on psychiatric wards, I found the secrets that allow leaders to develop a culture where people:

The secrets I have to share are tools anyone can use, and everyone is capable of tapping into. I would love to share these secrets with your clients so they can begin to shift their cultures starting today!

Key Learnings:

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