Erica Courdae is a certified coach, beauty industry veteran, and DEI practitioner who in 2018 co-founded Pause on the Play, an award-winning podcast and community for imperfect allies. In our conversation, Erica shares the parallels between hairdressing and DEI, how care work and energy work are directly connected, and the power of setting boundaries.

Topics Discussed:

• How Erica describes herself in the context of care work (2:22)
• What it means to be an imperfect ally (5:59)
• The push for inclusive language vs taking action (8:23)
• What brought Erica to the place of wanting to bring together imperfect allies (11:40)
• What encouraged Erica to enter the beauty industry (15:14)
• How to talk to allies that want to help but may not be a good fit (21:59)
• Why it's important to set boundaries to protect yourself (25:18)
• What Erica reads after a hard day (26:43)
• How Erica takes care of herself (30:18)

Where to Find Erica Courdae:

• Website: ericacourdae.com
• Podcast: Pause On The Play
• Instagram: @ericacourdae