Erica Peng

Erica Peng’s teaching and consulting focus on the intersection of neuroscience, human behavior, and leadership. Her approach helps leaders and teams unleash untapped potential by teaching “how to see” and interrupt blindspots and hidden root causes to behavior and presenting symptoms on teams and in organizations.

How does our automatic fight-flight-freeze threat response unconsciously evoke false narratives and reactivity (defensiveness, resistance, blame, criticism, withdrawal) that undermine communication, performance, and morale?

What specific individual and interpersonal practices and skills can intentionally build trust in relationships, teams, organizations – and repair trust – after inevitable misunderstandings and differences?

What approaches can leverage neurobiology to help motivate people to change behavior towards accomplishing shared goals together, especially in destabilizing conditions of uncertainty and crisis?

Erica has guided over 1500 business leaders, social entrepreneurs, and change agents through her neuroscience-based leadership development methodology, Designed For Connection. Most recently, she is applying her research and expertise to fire mitigation, helping fire inspectors and staff communicate and engage more effectively with community members amidst fight-flight-freeze reactivity from wildfire threat.

For the Dean’s Speaker Series in May 2019, Erica hosted Sadhguru, yogi, author, and global influencer, to speak about the inner and outer dimensions of leadership (link to Sadhguru at Berkeley Haas | Leader Is a Fool).