Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Rivera Jaramillo.
Hi Erika, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am originally from the beautiful city of Medellín, Colombia. While I was studying International Business Administration at the university, I was also dancing and performing at a well-known academy called Ritmo Extremo. With them, I had the opportunity to participate in Colombia’s Got Talent and perform on some of the most important stages around the country.
This dance experience opened the door for me to move to South Korea, where I performed on cruises and in amusement parks for three years. Eventually, I started my own dance company with my dance partner, and for another three years, we traveled to festivals and events we were truly passionate about. While dancing in Korea, I also had the opportunity to complete my degree there.
Dancing has always been a big focus and passion in my life, but at some point, I felt ready to develop my corporate skills. I met my husband, who is from Michigan, while in Korea. After living there together for a couple of years, we decided to move to the U.S. to start a new life. That’s when I discovered my passion for leadership!
After holding different roles at United Wholesale Mortgage – a company that gave me incredible opportunities to grow and eventually lead, I realized my second passion in life was helping people find their purpose, motivating them, and coaching them in the ways they deserved and needed. This passion led me to join the Leadership Development team, which supported over 600 leaders. We trained and coached them and we really believed in the power and responsibility of leadership.
I started as an instructional designer, became a trainer, then a coach, and ultimately the leader of the team. During that time, I met my now co-founder, the beautiful, talented, and kind-hearted Taylor Miller-Goulait. We worked together, built trust, and saw each other’s integrity and work ethic firsthand. That’s when Taylor invited me to start a leadership learning and development company – to bring the same kind of impact to organizations that don’t have an in-house leadership development team.
It’s now been three years with Monarch Coaching, and the learning never stops. My purpose has never felt more full and clear.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a beautiful road, and the bumps have only made it more interesting. Since I moved to the U.S. as an adult, English was something I only learned at a very basic level in high school and college. Spanish is my first language, and I also studied Korean for two years. While I was in Korea, communication was a mix of Spanish, English, and Korean, as long as we understood each other, there was no pressure.
But everything changed when I came to the U.S. I started working at a company where everyone spoke English, and I needed not only to communicate but to do it professionally and with mortgage vocabulary! I didn’t even know some of those words in Spanish at the time. I definitely experienced the famous imposter syndrome and often doubted my leadership skills because I wasn’t sure if I was communicating correctly or effectively.
Now, that part of my life has improved so much. I feel proud of my accent and my upbringing because they allow others to relate to me and trust me even more with their own growth and development.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Monarch Coaching?
Monarch Coaching is a leadership development company dedicated to transforming company culture from the top down. We specialize in helping businesses strengthen their company culture by equipping new and emerging leaders with the essential skills they need to lead with confidence and purpose.
What sets us apart is our human-centered, transformational approach. Every experience is tailored to the organization’s culture and values, ensuring real behavior change and lasting impact.
Our signature Monarch Leadership Program is designed and customized to meet the unique needs of each leadership team. Program packages include engaging online courses, interactive resources and team-building guides, 1:1 coaching sessions to reinforce the content learned in the courses, and group leadership coaching experiences that connect learning directly to action and build trust amongst leaders.
Inspired by the monarch butterfly, we believe small actions create lasting impact. At Monarch Coaching, we’re more than a training company — we’re your growth partner, helping you build confident, purpose-driven leaders who bring your company culture to life.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’m an only child, so making friends and connecting with others was something I had to get good at early on. Growing up, I moved to around 15 different houses, which meant constantly starting over and building new connections. That experience made me more social, adaptable, and genuinely curious about people.
I’ve been dancing for over 20 years, and while I still teach some classes at Detroit Dance Loft, I mostly take classes now. The dance community keeps me grounded and connected to my Colombian roots. It’s where I find joy, rhythm, and a sense of belonging.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.monarchcoachingco.com/
- Instagram: erikariverja
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikariverajaramillo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLeadHerLounge
