Women To Watch 2025 honoree Erika Chestnut

Erika Chestnut is a trailblazing leader, coach, and advocate with a mission to transform the tech industry and beyond by fostering cultures of intentional leadership and human connection. A Maxwell-certified leadership consultant, DISC consultant, and Certified High Flow Coach, Erika has built a legacy of empowering individuals and teams to reach their highest potential and peak performance.

Erika Chestnut is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for empowerment whose career spans over two decades in the tech industry. Her passion lies at the intersection of leadership, communication, and creating environments where people thrive.

As the founder and CEO of The Leaders QA Consulting, Erika is on a mission to reshape the way leaders build organizations. She has set ambitious goals to partner with 100 high-growth startups by 2030, proving the undeniable link between people-first leadership, intentional culture, and financial growth. Through her pioneering work, Erika is driving the creation of Culture-First Market Leaders, demonstrating that innovation and sustainable success are rooted in empowered and supported teams.

Erika is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech leadership. Her work emphasizes the importance of Black leadership in corporate spaces and champions the contributions of women in tech. 

Erika’s dedication to DEI is best exemplified by her vision to mobilize 10,000 women in tech to own their seat at the table with clarity, confidence and power. Through strategic training and coaching, Erika is equipping women with tools for people-first performance, impactful communication, and transformative leadership skills. She is breaking barriers and shaping a tech industry where leadership isn’t just inclusive—it’s unstoppable.

A wife, mother, and avid learner, Erika finds joy in family, personal growth, and staying rooted in her core values of grace, accountability, and intentionality. Whether she’s coaching teams, speaking at international conferences, or leading team building workshops, Erika’s guiding purpose remains clear: to inspire confidence, amplify impact, and empower others to shine.

Looking forward, Erika is on a quest to further her work in leadership development, launch impactful programs for women in tech, and continue building a legacy that uplifts communities worldwide .With a profound commitment to leadership, communication, and culture Erika Chestnut continues to make waves as an influential figure in the global community.