Hi I’m Erna!

I help women of color, queer women of color, and non-binary folks navigate the complexity of working in predominantly white institutions. Many of clients care about racial justice and are healing from toxic white Christianity and working to disentangle from systems of white supremacy and heteropatriarchy. I offer tools ranging from practical management skills to untangling the internalized theologies that shape how we view ourselves.

Together we can explore liberative theology and practices to help us be more connected to our bodies as we lead. We can explore what it means to lead authentically in the fullness of all your identities. But most importantly, I will help you listen to yourself. My goal is to hold space for you to courageously pay attention to your intuition, desires, and voice.

Who I Work With

BIWOC, Queer BIWOC, and non-binary folks of color.

Women/Folks navigating predominantly white spaces and need support and tools because you feel tired and gaslit.

Women/Folks in significant transition, whether that be work, church. Folks who are trying to leave or have just left a toxic work or church situation and are navigating job transition

Women/Folks who want help working through internalized patriarchy, white supremacy, and homophobia and need help connecting with their body and intuition.

Women/Folks navigating the complexity of moving into management and/or working on a DEI committee in a predominantly white organization.

Women/Folks looking to launch their own service based business.

  • As a mixed Latina pastor in a male and white dominated church setting I was desperate for mentoring and connection with BIWOC leaders. Enter Erna who became my coach and helped me address years of burn out and gaslighting by helping me find my voice again and reconnect with my body. Because of Erna I was also connected to a vast network of amazing BIWOC through Erna's online community, conferences she hosts and cohorts.

    A.C. (32 years old, Mixed Latina & White Canadian)

  • As a Black woman navigating a majority white non-profit, working with Erna taught me how to love, value, and protect my worth despite the toxic nature of my workplace environment.

    Bethaney (31 years old, Black Womxn)

  • Working with Erna was an important part to embracing a liberated theology after a painful season of exiting white evangelicalism. Her intuition, humor and pastoral gifts are healing for me as I’ve found a new way to express my faith.

    Nyam (Black Womxn, 36 years old)

  • My time with Erna has not only been life transforming, but really life sustaining at a very crucial time in my life. It is one thing to hear about being in white spaces, but another to actually experience it. Erna was thoughtful, compassionate, insanely informative and educational, and her priority is to be an advocate for you. She especially is damn hilarious, that is therapy enough for my soul.

    Bi-racial Asian American, late 30's

  • Erna showed up to each session with a gentle and affirming intention to meet me in the moment and deeply listen to me. I immediately felt seen, heard, and valued in a way that was new for me as a WOC. She offered resources, tools, and her own experiences to equip me with head, heart, and body knowledge.

    Elizabeth, non-profit work

  • My initial goal was to start a job search - but through coaching it became clearer that beneath the job search was a larger, big picture, life shift happening too. One of the vivid ways Erna put it is: I'm moving away from the "engine" I've had for so long - obligation - and looking for a new engine (freedom, asking what I want).

    40, Filipina American

  • One of the most impactful changes in my life came with encouragement from Erna to re-evaluate the mindset of how I enter the different circles of my life (work, relationships, faith, etc...). Erna gave me language, visualizations, and techniques to check-in with my body and spirit. Having these new approaches has changed much of my inner dialog and how I show up in my own life. I am now experiencing self-reflection and authenticity in real time. To hear Erna affirm and validate my experiences has given me space to heal, grow, and flourish.

    Black Woman in Healthcare Admin, 41

general COACHINg

Cost: $300 per session

I typically start by meeting with clients every other week for 6 sessions.

After that you decide what seems helpful. Sometimes we are done after 6 sessions, sometimes clients want to keep meeting every other week or shift to monthly.

Very rarely I will meet with clients weekly, if they are under a tight deadline and need more intensive support. Otherwise I find folks don't have capacity to process when we meet weekly.

I suggest that clients get their work to cover their coaching if possible. It falls under professional development.
I offer a sliding scale to Black, Indigenous, and Latinx woman and non-binary folks. My sliding scale spots for Asian Americans are currently filled.

I don’t think I’m the right coach for everyone, but when it’s a good fit, it can be amazing! The consultation is a chance to see if we are a good fit, and if the coaching I offer will give you the support you’re seeking. I don’t believe in pressuring folks, I think consultations are a chance for both of us to get to know each other, and I will be transparent with you if I feel like I’m not a good fit for you.

DEEP DIVE DAYS

Cost: Inquire for a quote

Some folks or teams want to do a deep dive in a short amount of time and want to set up a half day session.

Folks I've worked with in this capacity

  • Church DEI committees

  • Non-profit DEI teams looking for direction and strategies for navigating organizational dynamics

  • Pastors looking for new strategies

  • Individuals wanting to vision for the quarter or the year

  • Folks in time-sensitive situations with job search/ interview processes

  • WOC looking to launch their own business


Since these days tend to have specific parameter, reach out and I can give you a specific quote.

Why I Love Coaching

At its best, coaching is an amazing opportunity to do sacred work. Part of my story is that I stayed in places much longer than I should have because I didn’t know how to leave, or how to imagine the next thing. There is joy in offering women/folks the support I wish someone had given me in those moments.

I love to bring clarity and tools to what can be ambiguous and confusing situations. Coaching can include healing, naming, interpreting, moving forward with courage, and new tools for integration and liberation.

Reach out, I would love to connect with you!