Dreamkeeper™ Spotlight: Erin Offord

Owning your power, claiming your space, and mastering the role — this is what Erin Offord, CEO of Big Thought, brings to the table and conversation. Rooted in a philosophy of abundance and attuned to her intuition, she approaches leadership from a place of community and support, not ego. My conversation with Erin left me feeling empowered to embrace my own unique gifts and challenged the way I perceive life’s obstacles. Her bold ambition, authenticity, and deep commitment to her roots are a powerful reminder of where life’s journey can take you when you stay grounded and keep working toward what you truly believe in.

"“You’ve got to give what you want to get.”

ERIN OFFORD IN CONVERSATION

Q: What advice would you give to someone who feels like they don’t fit the traditional mold of success?

I would say, take that time and really go outward—get with a counselor or a professional coach, talk to someone, find a mentor. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to mentor you. That wasn’t a formal path for me, but informally I had so many mentors. People just showed up for me, and I didn’t even realize it at the time. They showed me the ropes, they looked out for me, and they opened doors for me. I think people saw my authenticity like, “Oh my gosh, she’s really trying,” you know? — and they believed in me. So even though it wasn’t formal, I had a lot of mentors I could call on.

And don’t ever think you can do it alone, because you can’t. Even the thing you’re strongest in will be balanced out by something you still need to grow in. You’re never going to be fully balanced, and that’s okay, because you’re not meant to be.

“Adversity is what carries you through as a leader. You have to go through it in order to truly be tested. To a young person, to any person, I would say this: it’s been in you the whole time.”

Q: Who in your life challenges you to dream differently?

I had an uncle who moved away fairly young, out to California. Being from New Orleans, you’re grounded there, but he saw something else — something he needed for his own personal growth. He moved, started his business, and was really smart. He was always sharing advice with me, keeping my aspirations high, sending me articles, talking about politics, making sure I thought bigger than where I was at the time. He knew I could think bigger, and he constantly pushed me to wonder, ‘What’s out there? What could be out there?’ Even from that early time, he was in his little way pushing me to grow.

Later, I had a few informal mentors throughout my professional life. Grace, for example, wasn’t in the room with me, but she put me in the room — she looked out for me, saw potential in me, and helped me develop into a leadership role. Similarly, Marjorie in Dallas guided me and positioned me for leadership because she recognized my potential. I guess you could say I was always in somebody’s succession plan, which made all the difference in helping me grow.

What I’ve also learned is you’ve got to keep moving and follow the signs. There are times, I’ve seen something three times in a day, and I ‘m like, ‘okay, hold up, this is a sign, stop, Erin.

Don’t let it go by.’ Don’t dismiss the signs or your gut telling you what the signs are.

They mean something, they really do.

“I started embracing an abundance mindset. I realized, This is not a deficiency — this is abundance, and we need to be ready and prepared for that abundance.”

Q: What's the most unconventional decision thats paid off?

I’d say moving to Dallas was a big step. Everything about me is Louisiana; my roots, my culture, even in Lafayette where I went to college, it’s all deeply rooted in that rhythm. What was unconventional was trusting my husband and taking the leap to move somewhere that didn’t have a clear path for me. But trusting that there was something else out there, even without knowing exactly what. It ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve made. It landed me at Big Thought and allowed me to stay here in a way that’s probably unconventional, but also deeply fulfilling.

Taking that risk to leave my roots, and then staying at one organization for as long as I have, aligns with who I am. I’m not someone who feels an itch to move every five years; I value deep, meaningful work. Staying at Big Thought has given me the chance to see projects through, reach the top range of what the organization offers, and finish what I’ve built before thinking about what’s next. That sense of completion and growth is far more fulfilling than leaving for something else. Being the CEO of an organization where I’ve built and shaped meaningful work is, honestly, the most fulfilling thing.

“Sometimes as a leader, there’s this expectation of what you’re supposed to look like, how you’re supposed to act, and a lot of that can be ego-driven — being the biggest dog in the room, you know? And sure, that can be part of leadership, but being able to listen and not lead from ego is a next-level leadership value, too. I realized there were some real lessons in that for me — that what I was doing wasn’t a weakness, but actually a leadership trait, because I let others shine and help facilitate their growth.”

Q: What is your dream anthem, a song that fuels your ambition?

I would say I’m here from The Color Purple, Cynthia Erivo’s version.

It’s the lyrics, the boldness, and the way she conveys it. It’s just such a Black woman’s song. It speaks to so many things, yet also makes this clear statement, putting the stake in the sand: regardless of what anyone thinks, or who you are, I’m here. There are so many interpretations of that, and each one resonates deeply with me.

Another song for me is Defying Gravity from Wicked. I love the vocals, but it’s the lyrics that really speak to me. It’s another kind of Black Woman anthem in my interpretation. It’s about defying gravity, defying whatever people try to put on you, all the underestimations and expectations. And sometimes, as a Black woman, you put that weight on yourself before anyone else does. So you’re already fighting, which is natural, but this song is about rising anyway — defining what’s natural, defining what’s normal, and claiming your own space.

I really think it is, the strength of why I’m here, coupled with how often we defy gravity, that is our superpower and it is this mesmerization of a black woman, that feels like my next chapter of the book.

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