Her Story
About Ericka
Ericka Pitman is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Empowered AI Learning LLC, which she launched in 2023 following completion of her doctoral degree in 2024. With a background as a lifetime educator spanning kindergarten through high school and into higher education, she transitioned into educational technology and now focuses on AI literacy. Through her consulting work she supports educators and workforce development efforts by partnering with higher education institutions to deliver training on technology integration and upskilling. She maintains affiliations with local chambers of commerce and attributes her success to those who paved the way before her while emphasizing integrity and adding value in all her professional endeavors.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ericka
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success came from the people that blazed the trail before me, and I hope that I continue to do that for other people coming after me. I think that my success came on the people that blazed the trail before me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Sometimes showing up is half the battle. If you keep showing up and putting your best foot forward, opportunities will align for you. You know, what might seem like a closed door, you might find a window or make a great connection, so you never know, you have to keep showing up.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get out of your head. Don't let the imposter syndrome get you down. Everybody kind of feels new at first in the beginning, and just keep showing up and doing your best, and eventually before you know it you turn around you're 5 years in and you have real class, you have real-world experience.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opinions about technology right now are very mixed. I think you have to stay very true to your values and you will find opportunities that align with those. Sort of not falling away to like trends and different things but staying the steady course. It's good to be aware of trends but we always like to come back to that strong pedagogy, that strong teaching principles that we know we have.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity. I never want to give someone a product or give someone advice that I wouldn't use myself. I want to add value to a person's time, their life, make something easier.
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