Spotlight on Success
Featured Interview
Erin Herman
“Spotlight on Success” is an interview series created by David Levine of I Am Your Virtual Professional. Its purpose is to amplify the voices of today’s business leaders. Each interview provides actionable insights that readers can implement immediately. No fluff, just practical wisdom that enables individuals to move forward with clarity and confidence.
Erin Herman
| Company | Erin Herman, LLC |
|---|---|
| Role | Leadership Strategist & Keynote Speaker |
| LinkedIn Profile | linkedin.com/in/erin-herman-97832217 |
| Company Website | theerinherman.com |
For years, every Friday afternoon, I sent an email to my entire department. Each one had a theme, a story, and a spotlight on team members who embodied that theme—whether it was exhibiting charisma during conflict, empathy in action, or courage under pressure.
At first, I wasn’t even sure if anyone opened them. Then one Friday, a woman knocked on my office door. We chatted casually, until she said something that stopped me in my tracks:
“Fridays are my day. I live for your emails. I read the story, I hope my name is in there, and…I’ve saved every single one.”
In that moment, I realized something powerful: if a simple story in an inbox could make one person feel seen, imagine what could happen in a room of 2,000.
That was a turning point for me. All too often, we bury the parts of ourselves that light us up. We tell ourselves we’ll pursue our passions tomorrow. But this time, I didn’t ignore the voice inside me.
I took the leap. I became a keynote speaker. And now I share those same themes—courage, empathy, growth—with leaders and teams around the world.
Because sometimes, the smallest gestures spark the biggest transformations
Who Should You Nominate?
- Leaders doing meaningful work
- People with insights others can learn from
- Voices worth elevating
Interview Questions
1. What’s one strategy your business used recently that created meaningful growth?
What’s one strategy your business used recently that created meaningful growth?: I stopped treating keynotes as one-way performances and started designing them as shared moments of practice where leaders actively test decisions, language, and behaviors in real time. That innovation turned stages into laboratories, and it measurably increased follow-on work, repeat bookings, and audience-driven referrals.
2. How has AI or technology changed the way you operate or serve clients?
How has AI or technology changed the way you operate or serve clients?: I use AI as a behind-the-scenes strategy partner to rapidly customize keynotes and field guides to each audience, pulling insights, stress-testing language, and designing interactive moments in a fraction of the time. That allows me to serve clients with deeper relevance, faster turnaround, and experiences that feel unmistakably built for them, not pulled off a shelf.
3. What’s one thing you stopped doing that actually helped your business grow?
What’s one thing you stopped doing that actually helped your business grow?: I stopped self-editing based on how I thought people might perceive me and it was the most freeing shift I’ve ever made. Letting go of self-criticism allowed me to show up fully real and relatable, and that authenticity is what’s helped my messages land deeper and my business grow.
4. What’s a customer insight you discovered that changed the way you do business?
What’s a customer insight you discovered that changed the way you do business?: I realized my customers aren’t “buyers” or titles, they’re real humans navigating pressure, priorities, and ROI just like the rest of us. That insight changed everything: I design experiences that respect their realities, speak human first, and deliver value they can actually use.
5. If a business had to improve ONE area to grow faster in the next 90 days, what should it be?
If a business had to improve ONE area to grow faster in the next 90 days, what should it be?: Clarity of message. When you can clearly articulate the problem you solve, for whom, and why it matters now, decisions speed up, trust increases, and growth follows fast.
6. What’s one thing you do consistently that keeps your pipeline healthy?
What’s one thing you do consistently that keeps your pipeline healthy?: I consistently build trusted, credible relationships by staying genuinely curious, asking good questions, listening without an agenda, and following up with real value. That curiosity turns conversations into connections, and connections into a healthy, sustainable pipeline.
7. What’s a decision you made in the last year that had a bigger impact than you expected, and what led you to make it?:
What’s a decision you made in the last year that had a bigger impact than you expected, and what led you to make it?: I made the courageous decision to fully pursue the work that truly lights me up, stepping onto stages and putting myself in front of audiences and media with intention. I did it because the message mattered more than the moment, and betting on myself ended up creating impact far beyond what I expected. I let go of the steady paycheck, health insurance benefits and took a risk on what truly breathes life into me every day, keynoting with messages that inspire and ignite a room.
8. What’s one process you streamlined that made a noticeable difference in efficiency or results?
What’s one process you streamlined that made a noticeable difference in efficiency or results?: I eliminated over-preparing and perfection-polishing before engagements. Trusting my experience and doing focused, intentional prep freed time, sharpened my delivery, and actually improved results for clients.
9. What book, podcast, or resource has influenced your thinking or business decisions lately and why?
What book, podcast, or resource has influenced your thinking or business decisions lately and why?: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. It reminded me that imperfection isn’t a liability, it’s the access point to trust and connection. Letting go of polished perfection has made my work more honest, more human, and far more impactful.
Who Should You Nominate?
- Leaders doing meaningful work
- People with insights others can learn from
- Voices worth elevating
I am Your Virtual Professional's
3 Key Takeaways
# 1
Growth happens when engagement becomes participation.
Rather than treating keynote presentations as one-way communication, she transformed them into interactive experiences where audiences actively practice leadership behaviors in real time. The result was stronger follow-up opportunities, repeat engagements, and referral-driven growth.
# 2
Technology works best when it strengthens personalization, not replaces connection.
She uses AI behind the scenes to customize Content, accelerate preparation, and tailor experiences to client needs. The takeaway is that technology creates the greatest value when it frees professionals to deliver more relevant, human-centered service.
# 3
Authenticity, curiosity, and clarity are powerful business systems.
Her answers consistently point to a common theme: stop over-polishing, communicate clearly, stay genuinely curious, and build relationships without an agenda. Those habits create trust, strengthen the pipeline, and help prospects quickly understand the value being offered.
Who Should You Nominate?
- Leaders doing meaningful work
- People with insights others can learn from
- Voices worth elevating
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