Erica H.
Strategic Thought Partner at Catchline Communications
Leadership
Education: The George Washington University - University of Virginia School of Law
New London, CT, USA
Biography
Erica Holthausen is the founder of Catchline Communications. An energetic speaker, she teaches experts how to build their authority by writing articles for high-visibility publications like Inc., Entrepreneur, and Harvard Business Review.
A former litigation attorney, Erica credits her legal training for teaching her to use persuasive techniques, ask the right questions, and communicate complex ideas with power and clarity. Before starting her consultancy, she spent almost two decades as a writer and editor for private companies, association publications, and regional magazines.
A TEDx speaker, regular podcast guest, and frequent guest expert at mastermind groups, Erica has spoken at college campuses, entrepreneurship centers, and association events, including Northern Essex Community College, the Enterprise Center at Salem State University, the Social Enterprise Greenhouse, and the Society of Professional Consultants. She’s inspired hundreds of consultants, business coaches, and executives to think more deeply, write more clearly, and share their ideas more confidently.
Because quiet brilliance doesn’t earn you a reputation as an authoritative expert.
Passion
I am passionate about helping experts develop and share a body of work that builds their authority. More specifically, I am passionate about helping experts become better writers, deeper thinkers, and more confident communicators.
Because writing is not about the ink; it's about the think.
Featured Video
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
I sometimes get paid for speaking
Topics
Best Story
I learned to ski in my late thirties. By then, I had a well-developed fear of falling and seriously questioned the wisdom of strapping on a pair of 2x4s and hurling myself down the side of a mountain.
Like any rational adult, I tended to lean back on my skis. And when you lean back, you lose control and wipe out.
A lot.
It was time for me to take a private lesson.
My instructor focused on getting me to lean into my boots. I understood the rationale, but it seemed mad, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
And so I kept falling.
Desperate, he tried something new. “Imagine I’m holding two halves of an orange and wedging each half between your shins and your boots. Now, make orange juice."
Somehow that visual broke through my fear. For the rest of the lesson, this six-foot-three-inch man in a bright red coat chased me down the mountain shouting, "Make orange juice!"
I didn’t fall.
Before my lesson, I knew I had to lean into my boots. But it took this individual saying it in this way before the message finally elicited the necessary behavior change.
No one can convey your message the way you do. Your ideas, voice, and experience can change the world — even if that change happens one person at a time.
Origin Story
Early in my career, I worked with a brilliant researcher at a non-governmental organization in Washington, D.C. She was smart, insightful, and warm. Her colleagues respected her intellect and relied on her to edit and fact-check articles, reports, and speeches. And though she wrote several articles and reports, she didn’t accept credit for any of them. So, when it came time to select the lead researcher for a new project, she was not even considered.
This story is all too common.
So many brilliant people want just a little more time to refine their ideas, to make sure they are perfect before sharing them publicly. But perfection is an unachievable goal.
And the pursuit of perfection is holding you back.
I’m Erica Holthausen, the founder of Catchline Communications. What I’ve learned working with mission-driven experts is that a clear roadmap, practical tips, and accountability are essential but rarely enough. Fears and self-doubt keep even the most brilliant people from getting their ideas into the world.
And that’s where I come in — the A.J. MacInerney to your Andrew Shepherd.
I help mission-driven experts like you get your ideas out into the world. I give you the tools you need to succeed along with techniques for breaking free of the fear and owning your brilliance. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns — I tell you what you need to hear so you can write and publish articles that not only position you as an authoritative expert but are actually worth reading.
Example talks
A Body of Work: The Key Unlocking the Door to Opportunity
To build a reputation as a thought leader and open the door to new opportunities, you must develop a cohesive body of work that demonstrates your credibility and shares your ideas, insights, and perspective.
Participants will:
- Learn why developing a body of work is essential and how it will help them advance in their careers or build their businesses.
- Define their area of expertise and specify what they want to be known for in their industry.
- Identify and develop topics they will explore that will differentiate them from others in their field.
- Build a strong professional network that supports and amplifies their ideas while enhancing their reputations.
- Attract new opportunities by developing and sharing content that positions them as thought leaders.
Audience: Consultants, business coaches, corporate executives, and nonprofit leaders.
Type of Event: Conferences, seminars, training programs, lunch-and-learns, and webinars.
Time: 60-90 minutes.
Alternative Formats: Three-hour workshop or one-day intensive.
Design Your Roadmap: From Subject-Matter Expert to Thought Leader
To earn a reputation as a thought leader, you need to set your course and take steps toward your goal every day. In this workshop, I will share my proprietary SOAR Authority Development Model™ to help you design a roadmap that takes you from subject matter expert to recognized thought leader and helps you identify and navigate the hazards along the way.
Participants will:
- Define their area of expertise and specify what they want to be known for in their industry.
- Identify exactly who they want to serve by sharing their expertise.
- Explore precisely how their audience will benefit from their expertise.
- Brainstorm the actionable insights that they can share with their audience to create meaningful transformation.
- Identify those things most likely to diminish their reputation and make a plan to successfully navigate those challenges.
Audience: Consultants, business coaches, corporate executives, and nonprofit leaders.
Type of Event: Conferences, seminars, training programs, lunch-and-learns, and webinars.
Time: 60-90 minutes.
Alternative Formats: Three-hour workshop or one-day intensive.
Rise Above the Cacophony: Writing for High-Visibility Publications
Would you like to write for industry trade journals, association publications, or well-known business magazines? In this workshop, I'll share my PEACEFUL Publishing Method™ and walk you through the process I use to help my clients secure bylines in publications like Nonprofit Quarterly, Inc., EHS Today, and Harvard Business Review.
Participants will:
- Identify and prioritize the business and personal goals underlying their desire to write for publication.
- Define their body of work and create an editorial calendar to guide article development.
- Identify and pitch the right high-visibility publication to reach the intended audience.
- Craft compelling articles that capture readers' attention and position them as thought leaders.
- Use published articles to build a robust professional network and secure new opportunities.
Audience: Consultants, business coaches, corporate executives, and nonprofit leaders.
Type of Event: Conferences, seminars, training programs, lunch-and-learns, and webinars.
Time: 60-90 minutes.
Alternative Formats: Three-hour workshop, two-day intensive, or six-week program.