Headliner

Communication & Collaboration keynote speakers

Erica Dhawan

"Digital Body Language" Author & Collaboration Expert

Speaking feeTypically $40k–$100kIndicative only, confirmed on request
  • Keynote · Workshop · Virtual
  • English
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Headliner can arrange a booking with Erica Dhawan or their representative. This profile is compiled from public sources; availability and fees are confirmed on request. A listing here does not imply endorsement, affiliation, partnership, or exclusivity.

Signature keynotes

What your audience walks away with

  • Outcome

    Get Big Things Done — The Power of Connectional Intelligence

    Based on her bestseller. Connectional intelligence (CxQ) is the game-changing skill that turns people into "superconnectors" — breaking down silos, accelerating innovation, and driving breakthrough impact by combining what teams know with the networks and technology around them. It's not about connecting more; it's about connecting intelligently.

  • Digital Body Language — Build Trust & Connection, No Matter the Distance

    Based on her WSJ bestseller. The cues and signals we send over chat, email, and video make up the subtext of every message — and most teams get them wrong. Erica's practical rulebook teaches audiences how to read carefully (the new listening), write clearly (the new empathy), and choose the right channel, so trust survives the screen.

  • Win Together — Build Resilient, High-Performing Teams in the Age of AI

    How teams stay connected, resilient, and high-performing as AI reshapes how work gets done — keeping the human collaboration that AI can't replace at the center.

  • Collaborate Faster and Further, Together

    Practical frameworks for faster, deeper cross-functional collaboration — turning the friction of modern, distributed work into momentum.

  • Concrete Empathy — A Playbook for Leading Modern Teams to Innovation

    Empathy reframed from a soft sentiment into concrete leadership practices that build trust and drive innovation across hybrid teams.

  • Selling Value in a 21st-Century Marketplace

    Applying connectional intelligence to modern sales and value creation — how to connect, build trust, and win in a digital-first buying world.

The story

Who Erica actually is

Erica Dhawan grew up in Pittsburgh, the daughter of Indian immigrants — a self-described "shy, introverted Indian-American girl" juggling two languages and two cultures, learning early how to read the room and build connections across difference. That instinct became her life's work.

She went on to earn a BS from The Wharton School, an MBA from MIT Sloan, and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and began her career in financial services at Lehman Brothers and Barclays. She then taught leadership and collaboration as a research fellow at Harvard and MIT before founding and leading Cotential, a global firm that helps companies and leaders apply 21st-century collaboration skills to performance.

Erica is the author of two Wall Street Journal / national bestsellers: Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence (2015), which introduced the concept of connectional intelligence and was named #1 on "What Corporate America Is Reading," and Digital Body Language (2021), the definitive guide to communicating and building trust in a digital-first world, named to the Thinkers50 Best New Management Books list. Her next book, Use Your Brain: How to Think Deeper in a World on Autopilot, arrives in January 2027.

Named to the Thinkers50 Top 50 Management Thinkers in the world (2025) — which dubbed her "the Oprah of management ideas" — and a GlobalGurus Top 20 management expert and Real Leaders Top 50 Keynote Speaker, Erica has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos and TED and for organizations including Coca-Cola, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, SAP, Cisco, and the U.S. Army. She writes for Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company, and is consistently rated the #1 female keynote speaker on teamwork and innovation.

The receipts

Books & publications

  • Digital Body Language

    2021

    how to build trust and connection over chat, email, and video; a practical rulebook for the hybrid, digital-first workplace. (Thinkers50 Best New Management Books.)

  • Get Big Things Done

    2015

    introduces connectional intelligence: how combining knowledge, networks, and technology turns people into "superconnectors" who get big things done. (#1 on "What Corporate America Is Reading.")

  • Use Your Brain

    2027

    how to think deeper, sharpen strategic and critical thinking, and escape cognitive autopilot in an AI world.

Gravity

Career highlights & recognition

  • Award2021

    Thinkers50 — Top 50 Management Thinkers in the world

    Thinkers50 Digital Thinking Award (2021)

  • Recognition

    "the Oprah of management ideas"

    by Thinkers50

  • Recognition2021

    WSJ / national bestselling author

    Digital Body Language (2021) and Get Big Things Done (2015); Digital Body Language on the Thinkers50 Best New Management Books list

  • Recognition

    GlobalGurus — Top 20 management experts in the world

  • Recognition

    Real Leaders — Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World

  • Recognition

    #1 on the Top Women Keynote Speakers list

  • Credential

    Founder & CEO of Cotential

    former research fellow at Harvard and MIT

  • Credential

    Wharton (BS), MIT Sloan (MBA), Harvard Kennedy (MPA)

  • Milestone

    World Economic Forum at Davos

    and TED; clients include Coca-Cola, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, SAP, Cisco, and the U.S. Army

  • Milestone

    Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company

  • Milestone2027

    *Use Your Brain

    * (January 2027)

Booking with confidence

What to expect when you book Erica

  • 01

    Compiled from public sources

    This profile is built from public, verifiable material and stamped with the date it was last reviewed. Nothing here is a claim we cannot trace to a source.

  • 02

    Availability and fees, confirmed

    Tell us your date and brief, and we confirm Erica's availability and current fee on request. We never publish a fabricated figure or imply an exclusivity we do not hold.

  • 03

    Managed end to end

    From first inquiry to the day itself, Headliner handles briefing, contracting, and logistics, so your team can focus on the event.

Answers

Booking questions, answered

What is Erica Dhawan's speaking fee?

Typically $40k–$100k (indicative; confirmed on request). Erica's fee varies by event, date, format, and location, so we confirm the exact figure for your booking. Share your brief for current pricing and live availability.

Is Erica Dhawan available for my event date?

Availability changes with Erica's schedule and the season. Tell us your date and we'll confirm whether Erica is open, and hold the slot while you decide.

How do I book Erica Dhawan for my event?

Erica Dhawan is booked through Headliner. Tell us your event date, audience, and goals, and we'll confirm availability and the next steps — typically within four business hours.

How much does Erica Dhawan charge to speak?

Typically $40k–$100k (indicative; confirmed on request). It depends on event, date, format, location, and whether the session is in person or virtual. Share your brief and we'll confirm the exact figure and availability.

Can I hire Erica Dhawan for a corporate event?

Yes. Erica is represented for speaking engagements through Headliner on a non-exclusive basis and regularly takes corporate keynotes, conferences, and leadership events. Share your brief to check availability.

Can I book Erica Dhawan for a virtual keynote?

Yes. Erica presents virtual keynotes as well as in-person sessions. Virtual fees are typically quoted below a live keynote, so tell us your format for a precise quote.

What formats does Erica offer?

Erica is available for Keynote, Workshop and Virtual engagements. We'll match the format to your audience and run-of-show.

What does Erica speak about?

Erica's keynote themes include Collaboration. Each talk is tailored to your audience and outcomes.

What languages does Erica present in?

Erica presents in English.

Where does Erica travel from?

Erica is based in New York, NY and travels internationally for engagements; virtual sessions are also available.

Profile updated . Compiled from public sources — confirm current fees and availability with Headliner.

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