Erin Hatzikostas is a corporate turnaround CEO turned authenticity expert. She is a highly sought-after global keynote speaker, bestselling author of You Do You(ish) and The 50% Rule, and the co-host of the podcast b Cause Work Doesn’t Have to Suck. Her TEDx Talk was among the top 20 most-watched globally in 2021, and she has spoken for organizations including CVS Health, Yale University, Mastercard, the American Dental Association, 3M, and The Hartford.

Erin Hatzikostas teaches authenticity as a strategic workplace tool, not a fluffy “be yourself” concept. She references the Greek root word, Authentikos, which means to be genuine, original, and authoritative. Erin defines authenticity as exposing who you are, when people least expect it, in the service of others. Her approach emphasizes action, differentiation, and psychological impact rather than transparency or personality.

Erin’s message resonates across nearly every industry. She has spoken to healthcare, financial services, HVACR, nuclear submarines, special military operations, petroleum equipment, insurance, and legal communities, among many others.

Erin frequently speaks at leadership events, women’s conferences, sales kickoffs (SKOs), company-wide meetings, and industry association conferences. Her content resonates whether the audience is executive-level, emerging leaders, women in business, or customer-facing teams.

Erin speaks about authenticity as a strategy. For leaders, she highlights how authenticity strengthens culture, engagement, and business growth. For women, she shows how authenticity enables them to take on bigger roles without sacrificing who they are. For sales teams, she teaches how authenticity accelerates know-like-trust and creates differentiation. She also speaks on The 50% Rule as an innovation and motivation strategy for individuals and organizations.

Erin’s most requested keynote titles include: “How to Make Authenticity Your Strategic Advantage,” “Less Polish, More Power: How Authenticity Can Propel Your Career,” and “The 50% Rule: Stop Comparing & Start Competing in a League of Your Own.

Erin is one of the rare keynote speakers who has led a major corporate turnaround as CEO and is also a dynamic, funny, high-energy communicator. She also brings proprietary research on authenticity’s measurable impact, real-world leadership lessons, and a practical framework—the 6 Principles of Strategic Authenticity (H.U.M.A.N.S.)—that gives audiences immediate next steps.

Yes. Erin was selected as one of only six showcase speakers at the 2025 International Association of Speakers Bureaus annual conference. Her book You Do You(ish) has won four literary awards, and her TEDx Talk is one of the top 20 most-viewed globally in 2021.

Erin provides tangible, next-day actions—not theory. She teaches audiences how to rewrite their LinkedIn profiles, rework sales presentations, create more engaging value propositions, and use authenticity in everyday communication. Many events see speakers or panelists immediately apply her strategies on stage.

Event planners can fill out a short form on Erin’s website, and she personally follows up within hours. She can also be contacted directly at erin.hatzikostas@bauthenticinc.com or 860-508-7267.

Yes. Erin extensively researches each client’s industry and tailors every keynote with custom stories, examples, language, and references so the talk feels uniquely created for that audience.

Yes. Erin leads virtual keynotes, half-day and multi-day workshops, and experiential sessions that dive deeper into her H.U.M.A.N.S. framework. She also consults on brand positioning, messaging, proposals, and Intriguing Identities, and she provides 1:1 and team coaching for executives and sales professionals.

Erin spent 22 years at Aetna, ultimately becoming CEO of its health payments subsidiary, PayFlex. Under her leadership, the company tripled earnings in three years and increased employee engagement by 15%. Recognizing that authenticity had been the key to her leadership success, she left corporate to research and teach authenticity full-time.

Authenticity in the workplace is exposing who you are, when people least expect it, in the service of others. Erin’s research shows that organizations with more authentic cultures have 6x higher trust and more than 2x higher retention, along with increased performance and improved employee happiness.

Authenticity is not “being yourself,” oversharing, or bringing your whole self to work. The Greek root, Authentikos, means genuine, original, and authoritative. Authenticity is action-driven—behaviors that create trust and connection by showing that you’re real, imperfect, and intentional.

Yes. Erin has spoken in the U.S. and Canada in person and has reached global audiences virtually. She welcomes international travel for keynotes, workshops, and events.

Erin’s in-person keynote fee ranges from $15,000 to $20,000. Her virtual keynote fee is $10,000.

Erin’s keynote programs typically run 45 to 90 minutes, depending on event needs.