Erica Edwards-Oneal is a bridge-builder, a change maker, and a fierce champion for equity. For more than 25 years, she’s been helping organizations reimagine what’s possible—transforming global workplaces into spaces where people feel valued, included, and empowered to do their best work.

 

As an attorney and the founder of EEO Consults, Erica leads with her signature approach, Baked In Equity™ —the belief that equity shouldn’t be an afterthought, but woven into the very DNA of an organization. Her expertise in leadership development, change management, and team building has helped countless companies thrive, especially for those who’ve historically been overlooked or under-resourced.

 

Her groundbreaking impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Erica has been recognized by Crain’s New
York Business as a Notable Woman in Sports. Her work has also earned her Empact Inc’s Change Maker Award, the National Black Pre-Law Impact Award, the Women of Distinction Award presented by Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, and numerous other honors recognizing her leadership, advocacy, and service.

 

But Erica’s influence goes far beyond the boardroom. Guided by her deep faith, she strives to be a light in the world—bringing hope, compassion, and resilience into every space she enters. She’s a tireless advocate for social justice, a champion of MWDBE (minority women and disadvantaged business enterprise) businesses, and a firm believer in opening doors for the next generation. One of her greatest joys comes from building youth pipelines that expose young people to opportunities and careers they might never have imagined were within their reach.

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Her story begins in a small town, where her parents juggled full-time jobs while running a farm. Those early years instilled in her a love for hard work, humility, and nature. Today, she’s the proud mother of four daughters, wife to her best friend of nearly three decades, a connoisseur of smart comedy—and a diehard fan of The Office (she can quote any episode on demand).

 

Erica calls herself a natural-born advocate, and it shows. Her superpowers? A laser-sharp ability to connect the dots and foresee risks before they arise, paired with an extraordinary gift for making people feel seen, heard, and valued. Championing the underdog at every turn, Erica remains committed to her purpose: to leave every space—and every person—better than she found them.