CEO & Founder of ERA Advisors | Author | Keynote Speaker | Chief People Officer at Blue Acorn iCi | Gender Equality Champion  | Host of the “Glass Ceiling and Sticky Floor Podcast” | Mom

Erica Anderson Rooney, a distinguished alumna of the University of Florida’s College of Health & Human Performance, holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Health Education & Behavior. Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Erica now resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina and is the visionary CEO and founder of ERA Advisors, a company that specializes in enabling individuals and organizations to become “unstuck” and inspire infinite possibilities.  Erica partners with organizations to bring gender equity to the workplace through policy change, formal training and 1:1 coaching.

Erica’s passion for creating positive change is evident in her best-selling  book, endorsed by Mel Robbins, “Glass Ceilings & Sticky Floors: Shatter Limiting Beliefs and Toxic Behaviors to Uncover Infinite Possibilities.” Geared toward ambitious working women, this book aims to liberate individuals from limiting beliefs and toxic behaviors, enabling them to achieve unimaginable success in their personal and professional lives. As a connector and a relentless optimist, Erica believes that failure is merely a steppingstone toward the next best version of yourself.

Notably, Erica has the privilege of working with women at all levels, helping them achieve massive success while navigating the complexities of life. She also drives organizational change, impacting hundreds of lives as the Chief People Officer for Blue Acorn iCi, a leading digital customer experience company.

Her journey began with an internship during her last semester at UF, which led to her first job at Verizon as a Health and Wellness Coordinator. From there, she transitioned from health and fitness to human resources (HR), driven by her unwavering commitment to helping others. Erica’s industry of choice—HR—is a realm where possibilities abound, and she and her fellow gender equality crusaders refuse to accept “no” as an answer.

Born a Gator with a legacy tied to UF, she embodies the university’s motto. Her most memorable HHP class was Worksite Health with Dr. Jill Varnes, and her advice to graduating seniors echoes her own journey: “Always ASK for it.” Erica draws inspiration from The Mel Robbins Podcast, and she reflects on her unexpected journey to the C-suite and her role as CEO—a path she never imagined but embraced wholeheartedly.

Her parting wisdom: “May you try and fail, but may you never fail to try.”

[Profile added in 2024]

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