You love the idea that “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” but when it comes to actually doing something about it, it feels like you’re trying to steer a cruise ship with a pool noodle. There are a million directions you could go, but it feels daunting, complicated, and overwhelming. Read More >

When former CEO Erin Hatzikostas took over a struggling company, she felt the same way—until she stumbled upon the strategy she’d unknowingly been using her entire career: authenticity. And not the fluffy, feel-good kind, but a deliberate, strategic, bottom-line-boosting approach that transformed her company’s culture, skyrocketed trust, and tripled earnings.

Now, after years of research, two best-selling books, and a whole lot of real-world testing, Erin has cracked the code on how to make improving your leadership and culture as simple, tangible, and liberating as floating on a pool noodle.

In this fun, thought-provoking talk, Erin will help you:

• Unpack the real baggage that’s plaguing your culture and leaders
• Redefine authenticity in a profound way that makes it more tangible and actionable (and that it’s actually not about you)
• Dive into her proprietary research on the impact of authenticity in the workplace, including some counterintuitive findings
• Learn her framework for change—The Six Principles of Strategic Authenticity (H.U.M.A.N.S.)—that creates immediately actionable strategies to transform everything from your job postings to your sales presentations
• Take immediate action by giving you real, customized experiments you can take immediately following her talk

This isn’t another feel-good, buzzword-filled culture talk. This is a game plan. One that will transform your sea of confusion into an ocean of opportunities. Read Less ^

We’ve entered a new era—one where sounding smart has become suspicious. AI has leveled the information and innovation playing field, while also making companies feel less human. How you do things now matters more than what you do. At the same time, employees are burnt toast from workplace BS. Companies that don’t adapt will evaporate. Read More >

Turnaround CEO Erin Hatzikostas cracked the code on how to exponentially grow a business while simultaneously making employees happier. Her strategy? Authenticity. Now more relevant than ever, she can help your team deploy authenticity as a strategy to help your business stand out while also making your team have a heck of a lot more fun doing it.

But authenticity isn’t what you might think it is—“be yourself”—that fluffy unicorn doo-doo definition that lights you up but then quickly lets you down. Erin will help you see that authenticity is actually about exposing who you are, when people least expect it, in the service of others. (and that it takes work)
Erin will take you on a rollercoaster of stories, surprising data, and real-world examples, all drawn from her experience as a CEO, her best-selling books, and groundbreaking research on authenticity’s impact in the workplace.

In this highly engaging and authentic talk, Erin will help you:

• Create faster trust with customers and prospects, increasing your time to sale and customer retention
• Understand a more actionable and strategic definition of “authenticity”, providing customized and real-world examples to spark your creativity
• Dive into her proprietary research on the impact of authenticity in the workplace, including some counterintuitive findings
• Dive into the sales requirements of Zero Moments of Truth (ZMOT) and how authenticity can help you zoom through its requirements
• Learn her framework for change—The Six Principles of Strategic Authenticity (H.U.M.A.N.S.)—that creates immediately actionable strategies to transform everything from your job postings to your sales presentations

While others are busy letting AI do the talking, you’ll stand out by using authenticity to break free of AI slop, build unshakable trust, and make your business unforgettable. Read Less ^

The good news: there are a million gurus, playbooks, and books to tell you how to grow your business. Read More >

The bad news: there are a million gurus, playbooks, and books to tell you how to grow your business.

In this modern-day, information-rich world, it often feels like you’re riding a whiplash-inducing rollercoaster where people are constantly shooting confetti cannons of advice at your face. It should be exhilarating, but instead it’s overwhelming and exhausting.

That’s how Erin Hatzikostas, former corporate CEO turned entrepreneur, felt when she first started her business. But then she discovered, used, obsessed over, and is now sharing the creative shortcut that has helped her—and countless others—go from unnoticed to unmatched, without working harder or spending bazillions of dollars.

In this simple but mind-bending talk, Erin will:

• Define The 50% Rule and its origin
• Discuss the science behind why using this Rule will catapult your motivation and creativity
• Show how The 50% Rule can also help you quickly (and cheaply!) innovate and stand out from other people and companies
• From Hamilton to Weird Al, Erin will share inspiring stories about big-time celebrities, well-known companies, and everyday people like you … all of whom used The 50% Rule to catapult their success

You’ll walk away fired up to use this simple rule on EVERYTHING you do, so you can stop comparing, chasing, and copying others and instead, start competing in a league of your own!  Read Less ^

When business growth pressure heats up, most leaders default to fancy strategies, mile-long project plans, or hard-nosed demands to do more with less. Read More >

But what if that crusty old playbook for change is not only exhausting … but also less effective?

In this keynote, former CEO Erin Hatzikostas helps leaders reframe how they lead big change. Through personal stories, she’ll take you on a journey through the authentic, highly effective moves she made to turn around a struggling company – growing bottom-line earnings from $17M to $50M in just three years – without grit-and-grind leadership, fancy PowerPoints, or burning people out.

From making a gutsy financial decision that created immediate breathing room, to declaring culture the company’s #1 differentiator, to holding uncomfortable-but-essential meetings, Erin pulls back the curtain on what actually works when the stakes are high.

Customized to focus on your biggest hurdles, your team will hear lessons learned to inspire their own, unique playbook. You’ll hear how you can:

• Increase efficiency by “finding” money to fund change, without simply slashing budgets
• Create a more collaborative and productive team by running fewer, better, slightly uncomfortable meetings that actually move change forward
• Improve culture by treating it like a core business initiative, not a side project
• Enhance your team by making smarter, braver calls on who’s on the bus … and who isn’t
• Influence better and gain buy-in from key decision-makers, including learning The First 45

This talk isn’t a cookie-cutter framework or a list of catchy soundbites. It’s a collection of real stories, practical ideas, and tangible takeaways that will leave leaders energized, aligned, and equipped to lead big change – without grinding people into the ground. Read Less ^