#224 - Be A Side-Preneur! with Erika Obando

Erika Obando is a TEDx International Speaker, Author, and Transformational Corporate Coach. Born in Medellin, Colombia, she came to the United States at age five and lived on her own since the age of fourteen. In 2004, she relocated from New Jersey to South Florida in search of new beginnings for her and her family. She became a first-generation high school and college graduate passing the baton to her only son, Cristian Chavez who became a Florida State University graduate in 2020.

Erika took the renown TEDx stage sharing her story - "When Breaking Points Lead to Empowerment" - a look into her life's journey of resiliency and perseverance. Using her own story's success as the platform, she shares the tools of transforming her life from being a Victim to being Victorious!

A relentless advocate for defining a life with purpose, Erika made it her mission to help empower and transform victims of trauma into respectable contributors to society. Her personal and corporate coaching is designed to help enhance dimensions of self-awareness, discover the tools on how to create better work and personal balance and teach healthy self-auditing habits. The results are achieved at an individual level as well as a collective experience producing focused, intentional, and unified success.

"Strong people come from tough circumstances, but it is up to you to decide how that ultimately defines you!"

With almost a decade of speaking and mentoring experience, Erika shares the tools she acquired in overcoming unthinkable hardships in her own life as she reveals in her book, "Without A Voice - A Woman's Journey to Resiliency" and teaching others how to positively rebuild theirs. Her book is used as part of counseling and a reference guide in at-risk youth and women empowerment organization programs. She is also heavily involved in supporting her Latin community and non-profits whose mission is to support and empower our next generation. Some of these organizations are Women of Tomorrow, Junior Achievement of South Florida, PACE Center for Girls and Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative to name a few.

Her experience includes speaking worldwide at schools, universities, organizations, and corporate functions as well as executive roundtables. Her healing toolbox can be successfully applied in personal, professional, and educational environments.