Hi I’m
Erika Coleman
and I’m a recovering overachiever.
My Story
Hi, I’m Erika!
Since I was a kid, I thought life was a simple math problem – give your all, then a little more, and the rewards will follow.
In my junior year, I found out the school across town had the best theatre program in the state, so I signed up and attended two different high-schools at the same time.
At work, colleagues found it hard to keep up with me because my response to “I'm tired” was always “Dig deeper!". And when they couldn't keep going, I took it on myself to get things done.
Living in a dry state where most people barely manage to keep a green lawn, I built an award-winning garden with over a thousand species of flowers. That was my idea of a relaxing hobby!
But always striving for more came at a cost.
I went gray at 19. After work deadlines, I'd get fevers and need time off. My weight would balloon up and down. But I always thought that “If it didn't kill me, it made me stronger”.
My friends would call and say, “Hey Erika, I'm still alive, we should meet!” – but we rarely did.
When I started my own company, the plan was to have more time for my family, but within a few years I was working non-stop as I grew the company to 50 staff and over a million in revenue year over year, and any idea of work-life balance blew up. I did try to slow down – but I just didn't know how.
And then I found out my math was wrong
When my business ran into some trouble, I decided that, if I tried hard enough, I could fix it. Soon after, though, my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given 18 months to live. So I gave myself 2 goals: save my company and find the best way to care for her.
I worked harder, longer hours. I tried different things. Back home I did my absolute best to care for my mom. Yet, despite all that, both my business and my mom’s health continued to decline. My mom eventually passed, and 2 months later I closed my company.
After overextending myself for 14 months, I finally sat down to rest. But then I couldn’t get back up. I literally didn’t have enough energy left to stand. My body was forcing me to admit that I wasn’t just burnt out – I was burnt to a crisp.
So I went back to school to understand stress.
Yes, I understand how that sounds. But at Harvard I studied stress and its impact on high achievers: burnout and wellbeing. As I came to understand the exact problem I was suffering from, I realized where I had been going wrong and, slowly, things changed.
Achieving my Masters was different than anything I'd ever done before: instead of dragging myself crying over the finish line, I got there still feeling so energized I even went for a run after finals – and I'm not a runner!
What I learned is that you can pursue achievement without the frenzy and stress, but it takes a new approach.
It takes embracing the art of Even Achieving™
Success without stress. Yes, really.
Full Professional Bio and CV
I used to believe life was a simple math problem: give your all, then a little more, and the rewards will follow.
I attended two high schools at once. Started a million-dollar company. Built an award-winning garden for fun.
But I also went gray at 19. My body crashed after big deadlines. And when my mom got terminal cancer, I tried to save her and my business at the same time—until both were gone.
After 14 months of overextending myself, I couldn’t even stand. I was burnt to a crisp.
So I did the obvious thing: Went to Harvard to deeply understand what it really means to succeed in a stress-obsessed world.
Now I teach high performers how to do their best—without doing it all. It’s called Even-Achieving™. And I’d love to show you.
Education:
Industrial Organizational Psychology, ALM | Harvard University | Dean’s List | 2025
Sociology, BS | Brigham Young University | Valedictorian | 2009
Speaking & Thought Leadership
Creator of Even-Achieving™ framework
TEDx Speaker | TEDx Oneonta 2025
Keynote Speaker & Facilitator for corporate and nonprofit audiences
Top-rated presenter at ATD, Training Industry, Training Magazine, and The Learning Guild
Professional Experience
Training and Development Leader
Chief Learning Architect, Virtual Crown | Lead of Digital Product Technology, VitalSmarts
Highlights:
Designed & facilitated dozens of corporate training programs
Recognized expert in Virtual Training Best Practices
Trusted consultant for Crucial Learning, Korn Ferry, David Allen Company, Mandel Communications, Arbinger Institute, United Way, and more
Coached Master Facilitators in advanced virtual presentation
Entrepreneur | Founder & Owner, Virtual Crown (7 years)
Managed 50+ team members to create top corporate virtual training experiences
Led team that supported 35,000+ hours of virtual training with 400+ facilitators and thousands of participants worldwide
Achieved $1M+ annual revenue, year over year
Direct client list included Arbinger Institute, NinthEdge, Korn Ferry, Crucial Learning, The Presentation Company, Boston Scientific, HCA Healthcare, Eisai, David Allen Company, Strategic Enhancement Group, TDF International, USDA, AchieveForum, Mandel Communications, Thales, Zoetis, and more
Nurtured a Zappos-like company culture despite being fully remote
Non-Profit & Community Engagement
(Major Gifts Manager, United Way of Utah County | Local Community Government and Non-profits) – 20+ years
Consulted on course design for award-winning Everyday Learners program
Executed and trained United Way team on nationwide donor relationship management program
Participated in corporate workplace campaigns, helping raise $100,000+ annually for local nonprofits
Active participant in neighborhood development programs since childhood
Volunteer, Utah Association of the Deaf | 2006–2008
Volunteer, Bolder Way Forward and Utah Women Leadership programs
Community Awards
Container Contest (ConCon) Grand Champion – Utah Gardener’s Facebook Group, 2021
Miss Provo 2006 | Miss America Program, 2006
Mayor’s Award of Excellence | Provo City, 2007
Life and Breath Volunteer Award | American Lung Association, 2007