Erika Thompson is one of those rare finds in the world of business. Born in Hawaii and raised in Chicago, Erika has always been interested in people, places and things outside of work. Her parents encouraged her interest in business and she honed her interest at a very young age when her father took her to meet his old college buddies who were all enamored with the idea of starting a business. The opportunity was there, but the path was not clear to Erika, so she wound up with an unsuccessful business in marketing while at the same time attending college.
Fast forward two decades later and Erika is now in her mid-thirties. After taking a short sabbatical, Erika returned to school in an effort to get her business off the ground. But her path was much clearer and she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She knew that she wanted to help people solve problems that they were having in their lives through business. This led Erika to a career in sales and after some time as a marketing assistant for a successful company, she decided to pursue a degree in accounting to further hone her business skills.
Now in her mid-fifties, Erika is still actively involved in business, though she admits she spends too much time at home watching television. Her hobbies include reading, playing golf and horseback riding. And if any of you have ever noticed, Erika is always wearing a cute, short dress. That’s because in addition to being a business woman, Erika is also an avid philanthropist. As a member of the “TODAY” show, Erika spends about three hours a day volunteering to help others, particularly women and children, with something she truly believes in – empowering women.