Her Story
About Erika
Erika Feazell serves as Director of Operations for the local nonprofit 8 Waves, where she builds structure around school-based programs providing hygiene items, wraparound care, and literacy support. She also works as Program Coordinator at the Poinsett Foundation, leading the Youth Advisory Board in Orange and Osceola Counties to promote youth-powered philanthropy. With seven years in nonprofit management, Feazell began her career after being inspired by nonprofits' response during the COVID-19 pandemic and attributes her success to relationship building on personal and professional levels. She earned her education in nonprofit management at Rollins College after time at the University of Florida. Feazell is a graduate of the Black Boardroom Leadership Institute through the Orlando Economic Partnership and participates in the women's wellness group Soul and Sky. She mentors youth on the importance of education, leadership roles, and community service, and she advises focusing on helping one person at a time to create meaningful impact. Feazell sees opportunities in nonprofit partnership and collaboration while noting challenges like duplication of services and lack of data sharing.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Erika
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to relationship building on both personal and professional levels. I have been able to use my personal relationships positively to advance in my professional world, focusing on long-term collaboration rather than just networking.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Even if you only help one person, that one person is a huge impact. You cannot save everybody, so focus on one at a time, and over time you'll see the hundreds or thousands you've helped.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include duplication of services where nonprofits do the same thing instead of supporting each other, and lack of data sharing which wastes time and resources. Opportunities lie in partnership and collaboration, leading to greater impact when working together.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.