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Short Notes with Big Impact
Want occasional insights that help you lead without losing yourself?
I send short, soulful notes now and then.
No fluff, no spam, just tools and truth.
Your inbox is sacred. I’ll treat it that way.
You’ve done everything “right.”
So, why does success feel hollow?
You’ve hit the goals, led the teams, and kept it all moving.
But underneath the calendar alerts and expectations... something feels off.
Let’s reconnect you with the version of success that actually fits.
Let’s reclaim the clarity, connection, and purpose your leadership (and your life) have been quietly craving.
For the Leader at a Crossroads
When your calendar’s full but your spirit feels empty…
You don’t need more resilience.
You need a way of leading that honors your humanity, sharpens your impact, and actually feels like you.
Before you can shift, you need to know who you really are.
Because burnout often masquerades as success.
This quiz will help you re-member your gifts and the crossroads you’re standing at.
For Culture That Lasts
The future of leadership is integrated. And it starts here.
Talks, workshops, and retreats that combine business strategy with human-centered leadership - so your people lead with clarity, care, and real connection.
I’ve led sessions for ERGs, executive teams, and cross-functional groups navigating high-stakes change.
These go beyond checkbox trainings. They get under the surface and into what actually moves people.
Because when people feel seen, everything starts to shift.
What happens in the room doesn’t just stay in the room, it reshapes how your people lead.
Meet Erica
“When you lead from your essence, everything begins to align.”
— Erica Smigielski, Leadership Strategist & Integrative Guide
Image captured by Amy Thompson Photography
I burned out climbing the fintech ladder - fast.
In the early days of my career, I rose fast in the male-dominated world of fintech. By 27, I was leading half the organization. From the outside, it looked like success. On the inside, I was crumbling. Exhausted, disconnected, and unsure who I really was.
Then a single business decision broke my moral compass. I felt betrayed by a boss and mentor I trusted. I walked out.
That moment became my turning point. I began the long journey back to myself. Since then, I’ve led multimillion-dollar initiatives, guided women leaders through personal and professional crossroads, and facilitated transformative retreats and workshops inside global companies and within intimate communities.
In every room - whether it’s a corporate conference room or a private session - I create space for leaders to remember what leadership can be. To stop performing. And to lead with clarity, integrity, and a deeper sense of self.
Strategic. Impactful. Undeniably human.
What Clients Say
My work today builds on decades of leading cross-functional teams and high-stakes initiatives. Whether I’m guiding a retreat, facilitating a corporate session, or working 1:1, the intention is the same: to reconnect people with their inner clarity and bring soul back into how we lead. Here’s what clients have shared about our work together.
When the Work Gets Personal
From Individual Clients
“Erica helped me open doors I didn’t even know were closed. Her presence, patience, and deep knowing guided me back to parts of myself I had lost in the noise of leadership.”
— S.W., Private Client
“At first, the changes were small. I barely noticed. But weeks later, I realized I hadn’t fallen into my usual burnout patterns. Erica didn’t just give me insight; she gave me a path back to myself.” — L.R., Private Client
“This retreat gave me permission to pause and just be my natural self. Erica’s presence created a space where I could hear my own wisdom again.”
— Retreat Participant, Ultragenyx
What Teams and Leaders Say
From Organizational Clients
“Erica’s workshop was a turning point. I learned the difference between self-care and self-soothing. I realized how I’d been chasing relief instead of real healing. I left with practical tools, but more than that - I left with clarity and permission to choose myself again.” — Workshop Participant, Women@Adyen ERG
“Erica brings order to chaos and creates space for breakthroughs. She led with calm authority, built trust across the organization, and inspired confidence at every level of leadership.” — Brian Shenson, Co-Founder, Springboard Advisory Group
“She moves teams forward with clarity and confidence. Erica has a rare ability to balance strategic priorities with the human dynamics that either block or accelerate change.” — Emilie Oberhauser, Chief of Staff, PMO
Where leadership meets humanity
Proven by Partners Like:
Let's Begin
You don’t have to know exactly what you need. You only need to know that something needs to shift.
You’ve done hard things before. You don’t have to do this one alone.
There’s a way forward that honors both your ambition and your aliveness.
However we begin - conversation, reflection, or a quiet quiz - it starts with clarity, not pressure.