Resilience Keynote Speaking
When Life Knocks You Down
Rise. And Rise Again.
Vancouver-based resilience keynote speaker Dr. Erica Harris inspires audiences worldwide to overcome adversity, cultivate resilience, and discover strength in life’s most challenging moments.
Through powerful storytelling and lived experience, Erica delivers unforgettable talks that leave audiences inspired, energized, and equipped to rise through adversity.
Trusted by organizations including the Canadian Blood Services and the University of British Columbia.
Why Event Planners Book Erica
A Keynote Your Audience Will Never Forget
Event planners who book Erica once tend to recommend her again and again. Her story is extraordinary, her delivery is polished, and her impact on audiences is lasting. Here’s what she consistently brings to the stage:
Unmatched Authenticity
Audiences connect immediately with Erica’s lived experience and courage.
Global Speaking Experience
TEDx Credibility
Erica’s talk, “Own Every Second” demonstrates her ability to inspire and move audiences.
Audience Impact
Flexible Delivery
Proven Across Industries
Signature Keynote
The Courage to Rise: Building Resilience Through Life's Hardest Moments
Resilience is often misunderstood as toughness or the absence of struggle.
In this keynote, Erica Harris shares her extraordinary journey through life-threatening illness, two life-saving transplants, and the rebuilding of her life.
Audiences will discover:
- How resilience is built through adversity
- Mindset shifts to navigate uncertainty
- Practical strategies to strengthen emotional and psychological resilience
- How individuals and organizations can cultivate cultures of courage and hope.
Inspire & Empower
Canadian Youth Leadership Events
Our Canadian Youth Leadership Speaking Program is designed to inspire and empower high school students to build resilience, strengthen confidence, and navigate life’s challenges with clarity and courage. Through engaging storytelling and practical, real-world tools, students are encouraged to explore their potential, develop emotional strength, and cultivate a mindset that supports both personal growth and well-being. Each session delivers a meaningful and relatable experience that resonates long after the talk ends. Book a program today to bring this impactful experience to your school community.
This program is delivered by Erica Harris in collaboration with Dr. Keyvan Hadad, a Vancouver-based pediatrician who has worked extensively with youth and families through leading institutions such as BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. Together, they bring a powerful blend of lived experience, clinical insight, and a shared passion for supporting young people. Erica’s journey—from retired sports chiropractor and kinesiologist to counsellor, speaker, podcast host, health coach, and terminal cancer survivor—combined with Dr. Hadad’s medical expertise and dedication to youth health, creates a unique and impactful voice that deeply connects with students and school communities alike.
Featured Talk
TEDx Talk Own Every Second
In her powerful TEDx talk, Own Every Second, Erica explores the profound impact of living intentionally. She draws on her journey through leukemia, two life-saving transplants, and rebuilding her life to inspire audiences to seize every moment.
Life is precious.
Every moment matters.
Resilience is built in the moments we choose to rise.
Additional Speaking Topics
Erica brings her message of resilience to organizations and communities across every sector
No matter the industry or audience, Erica’s message of resilience, courage, and hope lands with equal power.
She delivers talks for:
- Healthcare, medical and nursing conferences,
- Non-profit organizations,
- Corporate and leadership events,
- Insurance and professional organizations,
- Women’s leadership and empowerment events,
- Universities and educational institutions, and
- Canadian youth through schools and community groups.
Past audiences include organizations such as the Canadian Blood Services and the University of British Columbia.
Rising Through Adversity
How individuals turn challenges into growth and opportunity.
The Science and Spirit of Resilience
Leading Through Uncertainty
How resilient leaders inspire strength, clarity, and courage in challenging times.
Audience Impact
Long after the applause fades
Audiences leave Erica’s talks feeling inspired to face challenges with renewed strength, equipped with practical resilience strategies, empowered to navigate adversity with courage, and motivated to cultivate hope — even in uncertain times.
Beyond the Stage
More Ways to Work with Erica
Erica is also the founder of:
Rise Today Consulting — delivering resilience keynote speaking and health coaching worldwide.
Rising Minds Counselling and Psychotherapy — providing online therapy for residents of British Columbia and Ontario.Erica is also the founder of:
Rise Today Consulting — delivering resilience keynote speaking and health coaching worldwide.
Rising Minds Counselling and Psychotherapy — providing online therapy for residents of British Columbia and Ontario.
Unmatched Authenticity
Book Dr. Erica For Your Event
Speaking Accolades
Straight from Erica's Clients
Erica’s talk was trzuly enlightening and inspiring! I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house!
— Dr. Dana Devine PhD, FCAHS Director, Centre for Blood Research. Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of British Columbia
— Hayley W.
I was a happy, spirited, motivated, carefree 13 year old, until I was given a life changing diagnosis. I had kidney cancer. I was later diagnosed with a genetic kidney cancer disorder and I had my kidney removed. After going through all I went through, I had anxiety, and I wasn’t spirited, carefree or motivated like I had been.
Dr. Erica Harris’ coaching program at Rise Today changed that for me. Something clicked in what she taught me and I became that happy, spirited, and carefree girl I had been. I am motivated and I feel I have a purpose again. This program will help you if you are a survivor of hardship.
Thank you Erica for helping me find myself again.
— Baya
What you are doing is so very important.. You made a huge positive impact on our lives and how we view lives and you made it possible for us to accept in a positive way what was happening to us. Thank you very much Erica Harris…
— Jon Laskin
I reached out to Erica when it felt like my whole world was crashing down. Every-time I turned around I was faced with a new obstacle. I wanted to give up.
Then I remembered my good friend Erica who has travelled a similar path. She was always so positive and real, that’s what drew me towards her.
Erica began working with me to equip me with tools and strategies to help me navigate through my health prognosis.
She taught me strategies on how to be prepared if things go array. She taught me to a build a Vision board and I use it everyday as a constant reminder of what I’m fighting so hard for and various other tips and tools.
I will be forever grateful for her friendship and all the tools she’s given me to navigate this crazy life.
— Miranda Frigon
Erica is genuine, caring, honest and motivating! Her purpose-driven ‘Bounce Back Coaching Sessions’ are truly unique and will create clarity and precision to help reenergize you and your business! I needed a re-set and re focus for my business. Erica provided me with very specific industry marketing ideas and helped tweak my mindset. I am back on track with a determined direction and focus! You can be too!
— Ian Dunsmuir
Throughout my life like many others, I have faced challenges and obstacles, taking them in stride and working through them as I thought best. Though difficult at times nothing seemed insurmountable and with a concerted effort, I always found my path forward. Unfortunately, all of that changed for me while facing an acrimonious divorce after 16 years of marriage with two young children. Appreciatively I met Dr. Harris who drew on her own resilience and fortitude to demonstrate that with help we can overcome even the harshest experiences. Her tools and techniques help guide my thought process and allowed me to see choices from a new perspective while grounding me in my purpose and surprisingly allowing me to see my own needs. Looking back I wonder in amazement that I’ve moved so far forward and now equipped with her tools I’m more comfortable knowing that no matter what the future holds it will be as glorious as today.
— Scott Daws
I’ve endured challenges from sports-related head injuries and from time to time have found myself struggling with PAIN, FEAR and FRUSTRATION. Erica has been able to provide me with practical insight on tackling these challenges step by step and to take accountability for how I wake up and decide to live each day.
What makes Erica so special is her practical experience from her own struggles, her history as a practicing sports Chiropractor and her “infectious can-do” attitude. I’d recommend anyone who is struggling to find the right attitude to get in touch with Erica. Her strategies are easy to implement and yet, are life changing.
— Grant Hodgkins
The gift in the Rise Today Inspirational Podcastand in all of the speakers is that it bridges us together in our adversity. It leaves us feeling more empowered simply in knowing that we can and will get through this because “we” are not at all alone
— Cathy Turk
I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for helping me get my story/journey out there. My goal in telling my journey was to start a conversation and WOW! What a conversation we have started! Since the podcast aired I have had so many people reach out. Some wanting to offer their prayers, some telling me about their own journeys, some had follow up question about stomas and rectal cancer but most just wanted to thank me for being brave enough to share my story/journey. They wanted to let me know that they now feel empowered to share their own stories. This is exactly what I was hoping would happen so THANK YOU so very much for what you do. Please continue bringing the hard topics to light and I will continue to watch so that I may continue to grow and learn.
— Heidi Pero
Erica has such a big heart and an incredibly infectious positive attitude.
— Gail Watson, Women’s Speakers Association
Erica’s story is one of awesome strength. I will never tire of hearing the message of faith, hope, love, and gratitude. She shines her light on all she meets!
— Kelly Jenner, North Vancouver
Erica Harris has a tremendous and inspiring story story that cuts to the heart of our humanity. Her moving story of overcoming significant and personal adversity in the setting of overwhelming odds had great impact upon the audience of healthcare professionals at the annual Canadian Critical Care Conference. She presents herself in a personable, humble, yet straightforward manner. She teaches us all that in the end, it’s not the adversity that defines us but rather we are defined by how we choose to meet the challenges that come our way. I have been privileged to see Erica present her story.
— Dr. Vinay Dhingra, Critical Care and Internal Medicine Physician
Erica Harris is a most remarkable and inspiring speaker. We felt very lucky to have her speak for us at Canadian Blood Services. She has done so on repeated occasions and further, she has served as our keynote speaker at our national event held at the Canadian Museum of History. Her powerful story is delivered with great passion to inspire others and to make a difference. I am very honoured to work with and to meet such an outstanding woman and mother.
— Arleen Asi, Canadian Blood Services
Dr. Erica is a Health Warrior. She inspires me to live my best life every day, no matter how high the mountain I have to climb!
— Jenna Auber, Survivor, RN Rhode Island, USA
Erica Harris is an inspired and heartfelt speaker, who provides gritty and heart provoking thought on what a gift life truly is. Her message of hope, courage, and love is the simple foundational formula for all success!
— Izumi Miki McGruer Managing Director , Freedom 55 Financial
Erica is my positive spirit and my enduring nature. Her relentless strength has had a remarkable inspiration on my life.
— Dr. Nicole Gemel Mom, Chiropractor, Athlete Calgary, Alberta Canada
When I first met Erica, I felt that there was something special about her. I was right… Erica is such a blessing to this world. She is an absolute inspiration and her story is one of awesome strength and courage.
— Denise Santana, Sault Ste Marie Ontario
Erica is truly an ambassador of life- not just for herself but for her family and for everyone who meets her!
— Cindy Apostle, Marketing Specialist, Seattle USA
Dr. Erica has this incredible determination and this never ending vibration of hope. My “E” tattoo is a reminder of her strength that I carry with me as a reminder to be grateful for each day and to live each day to the fullest!
— Kara Dickson RN, Vernon, British Columbia Canada
Life requires us to stay the course, but Erica shows us how to do it best. Her tenacity, heart and strong character are immeasurable.
— Janine Grace, Cyclist, BC Canada
Wow! Erica’s courage and positivity is so inspiring. Erica is an amazing woman whose story and positivity inspire others to greatness!