We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ericka Spradley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ericka thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As a working woman, there were so many things I had to learn on my own beyond my education to experience professional success. Over the years, I realized friends, family, and colleagues had similar experiences as well – meaning there was no blueprint or roadmap for them to follow as a woman in the workplace. As a result, I decided to become the mentor and coach I wish I had. I am currently on a mission to help women around the world excel at work, know their worth, and ultimately stop sitting on their ask (advocate for themselves),

Ericka, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I took a leap of faith many years ago that catapulted me into my current role (the work I believe God created me to do) and it changed EVERYTHING! I was a Store Manager in retail at that time and wanted something different career wise but I couldn’t articulate it. I also wanted to attend church on Sundays and couldn’t so I eventually provided my employer with a 6-week notice, put my resume online, withdrew the balance of my 401k, and went on vacation. While on vacation, a Recruiter contacted me and I transitioned into banking as a Financial Center Manager. I’d never worked in the industry prior plus I hadn’t completed my undergraduate degree.

As a Career Management Strategist/Consultant and Founder of Confident Career Woman, I believe every woman should excel at work and know their worth. This notion has not only resulted in at least 80% of my clients getting hired, but it also inspired me to start a movement. I launched an online course platform providing women with 24/7 access to career management strategies that empower them to: master the invisible organizational rules, communicate with confidence, and manage their careers like a business. My free course, “Ditch The Downplay,” is furthering my mission to help at least 1M women experience career advancement courtesy of a plan of action centered around self-advocacy and communication.

In addition, I published “7 Days To Confident Interviews,” followed by my latest book “Confident Career Woman: Ditch Perfection, Play Bigger and Make PowHer Moves” to equip women with a game plan that positions them to experience career mobility. Whether it’s partnering with organizations and Women’s Employee Resource Groups to provide professional development or creating online courses and coaching individuals – I provide clients with the relevant information required to overcome obstacles, communicate with credibility, and increase their visibility at work.

Because I understand the challenges women face day to day on the path to promotion, I’m committed to providing principles and strategies that help them self-advocate, go further faster in less time, and ultimately stop sitting on their ask. Since women are doing the work, they may as well reap the rewards and ask for what they deserve.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

We are all in the relationship business. With that being said, my new clients come from existing clients and connections. I would not have my current level of success without women and men who have referred coaching clients, who have recommended me to organizations for partnerships, who have mentioned my name in rooms that I couldn’t access, and who have interviewed me for articles, podcasts, etc.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I would say consistency and content creation helped build my reputation in the market. While working full-time and simultaneously building Confident Career Woman, I consistently published articles. I also published episodes for my podcast, posted on social media, and shared testimonials of those who either purchased a course or who hired me to coach them.

I also worked with a company to define my brand identity which included my voice, values, and personality. In doing so, I consistently showed up in a way that felt authentic to me; in a way that attracted my audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://erickaspradley.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericka-spradley/
• Other: Online course platform: ConfidentCareerWoman.com