You Donât Need a Crisis to Change Everything
Through powerful stories and actionable tools, I teach how to build resilience and lead with urgency - at work, in leadership, and in life.
I wasnât supposed to be here this long.
In 2019, I was at the end of lifeâliterally. My lungs were failing, my body was shutting down, and time was running out. Then, at the last possible moment, a breakthrough drug called Trikafta was approved. It saved my life.
That moment marked a line in the sand. Everything since then? I call them my bonus years.
But the truth is, Iâve always lived like time was running out. I was born with cystic fibrosis and raised with the knowledge that my future was uncertain. I learned early on that you canât wait for life to hand you perfect timing. You have to move, even when itâs messy.
Today, I speak to audiences about what it means to lead, live, and grow before life forces you to. My talks are built around real-world challenges, lived experiences, and hard-earned lessons in resilience, bold decision-making, and showing up fully, at work and in life.
These arenât just stories of survival. Theyâre tools for transformation.
All talks are customizable based on your audience, whether itâs a leadership team, a wellness retreat, a womenâs summit, or a corporate conference. Here are a couple of my most requested keynotes:
đ€ The Urgency Effect: How to Lead, Work, and Live Like Time Is Running Out
Most people wait to change until something forces their hand: a crisis, a disruption, or a diagnosis they didnât see coming. Erin Mark knows that moment intimately. In 2019, she was entering end-stage cystic fibrosis. But a last-minute breakthrough drug changed everything, and gave her what she now calls her bonus years.
In this powerful, story-driven keynote, Erin introduces The Urgency Effect - a mindset shift and actionable framework for individuals and organizations ready to stop waiting and start leading with courage, clarity, and intention.
Through a blend of lived experience, behavioral science, and leadership psychology, Erin challenges audiences to rethink how they show up, not someday, but today.
This keynote equips teams to:
â Lead better conversations under pressure
â Build cultures of connection, not just productivity
â Act boldly even in times of uncertainty
Perfect for corporate events, team retreats, leadership development programs, and organizations navigating change or growth, The Urgency Effect leaves audiences with more than inspiration, it gives them a blueprint for action.
Because urgency, when used well, is a superpower.
đ€ The Human Side of Healthcare
At 35, Erin was entering end-stage cystic fibrosis. One doctor gave up on her. Another refused to, and Erin believes that is the reason she lived long enough to receive a life-saving drug. Now, in what she calls her âbonus years,â she shares the perspective patients wish more providers understood: what truly helps us heal - not just physically, but emotionally and mentally.
This keynote brings raw vulnerability, lived insight, and practical takeaways to healthcare teams. Itâs a compelling reminder that while medicine treats the illness, itâs human connection that supports true healing. From the exam room to the front desk, Erin challenges professionals to look beyond the chart and see the whole person in front of them.
Perfect for medical conferences, staff development, and patient experience initiatives, this talk reignites the âwhyâ behind healthcare, and reminds providers that the smallest moments of compassion can leave the biggest impact.