Become a Driving Force of Influence with
Velvet Machete® Leadership Academy
An 8-Week, Live Virtual Leadership Certification Program
Your cohort begins March 13, 2024!
Velvet Machete® Leadership Academy is a virtual leadership certification experience that supports you in maximizing your influence, focus, and results as a powerful leader. This interactive, 8-week program via Zoom has six modules, one bonus training week and a special week to either attend office hours with our founder or simply get caught up!
Become more effective and efficient while doing more with less via the proven and actionable strategies of the Velvet Machete® Leadership journey. With six key pillars in clear focus, you are guided through small, achievable steps to unveil one massive impact: becoming an influential, confident, compassionate leader in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.
All levels of leadership across many industries all add to the depth of experience.
Again, you will receive an official Velvet Machete® Leadership certification with a digital certificate of completion for your office, company tuition or development reimbursement, business expense plan, or to auto-populate your LinkedIn profile.
Enroll today!
The Velvet Machete® Leadership Journey
Start your journey to becoming a
Velvet Machete® Leader
The Course Path
Enjoy New Course Content Updates in 2024!
The cohort meets weekly for two hours in lieu of hosting full days that take everyone out of operations for long stretches of time. There is a bit of important pre-work to set you up for success, followed by 8 weeks of content: 6 modules, one catch-up week, and a bonus personal brand assessment training, plus a virtual graduation celebration on the final week. Of course, our team is actively encouraging you to implement your learnings in real-time while holding you accountable throughout the program!
01
Unleash Your Potential with Personal Branding
Personal Brand Personality Assessment
Personal Brand Self-Assessment
Personal Brand Peer Assessment
Follow Your Breadcrumbs
Personal Brand Peer Assessment Evaluation
Personal Brand Promise
02
Build Supportive Environments
Strengthen Workplace Culture
Foster Psychological Safety & Belonging
Prepare for the Future of Work
Create Streamlined Physical and Digital Work Environments
Provide Systems and Processes
Carefully Tailor Your People Environment
Nurture Your Personal Environments (Health/Physical, Mental, Spiritual)
03
Master Your Communication
Position Yourself and Your Ideas Influentially
Craft Messaging Based on Distinct Audience Motivators
Focus on the “Platinum Rule”
Engage Effectively in Difficult Conversations
04
Amplify Strategic Thinking
Uncover Key Strategic Decisions Companies Contend with Today
Connect Decisions to Key Stakeholder Value
How to Contribute Meaningfully to Strategic Conversations
Leverage Your Internal Network to Drive Strategic Results
05
Develop Strong Business Acumen
Understand How and Why Things Are Done in Business
Define and Report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Learn to Tell the Story Behind the Numbers and Outcomes
How to Prepare for a KPI Review
06
Optional Office Hours/Off Week
Attend Optional Office Hours with our Founder, Amber Erickson-Hurdle
Come Prepared with Your Challenges, Questions and Ideas
There is No Course Work This Week-Go Back, and Get Caught Up
07
Bonus Fascinate Personal Brand Assessment Deep Dive Training
Discover How the World Sees You at Your Most Influential
Easily Describe Your Distinct Value
Identify your communication red flags and how you could be turning people off
Discover how you are most and least likely to solve problems, deal with conflict, and achieve results...
AND SO MUCH MORE!
08
Master Team Dynamics
Build High-Performing Teams
How to Motivate and Engage Your Unique Team
Lead Team Decision-Making
Foster Resilience and Adaptability
Prepare for Conflict Resolution
Nurture Team Alignment and Camaraderie
Meet Amber.
Founder & CEO, Employer Brand Central
Amber Erickson-Hurdle helps professionals and businesses define and position their value after learning about branding as a teen mom who repositioned herself into a multi-award-winning, powerhouse businesswoman. She has been recognized among the top 30 branding professionals in the world for five years, ranking #5 for 2024, thanks to her proprietary branding philosophy.
As an engaging and high-energy professional speaker, Amber teaches the combined value of personal brands, employer brands, and business brands to increase market share and profitability, reduce turnover, and amplify satisfaction among customers and employees alike. She is a featured expert in an upper-division college public relations textbook, is a Senior Fascinate Certified Advisor known for her sophisticated data analysis of the personal branding assessment, and has been covered in Entrepreneur Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, and beyond.
Based in Venice, FL, she has served celebrities, executives, Fortune 100 companies, and everyday leaders alike through her books, podcast and coaching programs. When she is not at the dog beach or being a hot-wing snob, she is leading Employer Brand Central. This branding agency focuses on small to middle-market businesses looking to optimize their talent to increase operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and fortify their brand reputations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is This Leadership Program Right For Me?
This program will benefit anyone who wants to improve their leadership ability through effective communication and strategic influence. If you want to build trust by having a solid grasp of both people processes and business acumen, this program is for you. And if you like to whine, make excuses, or take but not give, this group coaching program is NOT right for you.
What Type of Leader Do I Need To Be To Participate in This Program?
Corporate leaders, small business owners and leaders, direct sales leaders, community leaders, political leaders, and non-profit leaders all have benefited from Velvet Machete® Leadership principles. Even solopreneurs who aspire to grow a team or have virtual contract teams have grown tremendously from VMLA. While our founder has a subbrand specifically for women in business, VMLA is designed for and attended by both men and women. Participants celebrate the diverse peer advisory group VMLA attracts and the innovation the various perspectives contribute to their day-to-day solutions.
How Long Do I Have To Complete the Program And Get Certified?
The core content is delivered over the span of six weeks, and participants are encouraged to keep up with the timeline as it unfolds to maximize the opportunity for group collaboration and to earn your certification in alignment with your class. However, the content will be available to revisit in the learning portal for as long as the program exists.
What If I Have Questions Or Need Support?
Once enrolled you’ll receive information from us on how best to contact us via email for questions about the coursework, or our technical support team for any system (online access or performance) issues. You will also be able to submit and ask questions during office hours sessions, and via our online discussion areas.
What If I Am Already Feeling Overwhelmed? Will This Take a Ton of Time?
We GET YOU! The lessons are bite-sized and manageable with your hectic life in mind. We cover much of the workbook content during our time together to avoid adding more to your plate during your operational or personal time. You can ALWAYS access the Employer Brand Central team along the way for support. (We want Velvet Machete Leadership Academy to complement, not complicate, your life!)
*The pre-work is the heaviest lift, and if done with intention, will make the rest of your experience flow with ease.
What Type of Companies Participate?
We have students from large companies like Walmart, FedEx, PWC, Edward Jones and more, and we have medium-sized companies, as well as small business leaders and even solopreneurs represented. This content is transferrable across all leadership environments and levels. If you want to clearly understand and position your value, greatly increase your confidence, and ultimately increase your influence as a leader, then this program is for you.
Developed by Amber Erickson-Hurdle, As Seen In
What Participants Are Saying
Leading a national nonprofit association, I joined the Velvet Machete Leadership Academy to become a more influential, confident leader. Before working with Amber, I never really thought I needed a personal brand--I believed my organization's brand was what mattered most. After working with Amber, I realized how defining my personal brand helped me better clarify exactly what I excel at, which is key to being a confident leader.
The worksheets and assessments Amber used throughout the program helped me understand exactly who I am as a person and as a leader and how I’m seen by those closest to me. That knowledge is empowering!
I appreciate Amber's direct, thoughtful, and down-to-earth guidance and the time she clearly invests to make this program beneficial for every leader involved. I can definitely say that I have grown as a leader because of the Velvet Machete Leadership Academy. Thank you, Amber!
-Aubrie Kobernus, REALTORS Land Institute
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I joined Velvet Machete Leadership Academy to improve my personal branding, but what I got from the experience was so much more! Amber takes you through a mindset change in light of your personal brand statement. I have never experienced anything like this, and I am more confident as a result!
I love Amber’s direct style of teaching, which delivers breakthroughs early and often and quickly takes you through the changes you want to make. Don’t delay! You will make big strides if you do the work.
Kay Suarez, Walmart Home Office
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I needed help with branding and influence when I joined Velvet Machete Leadership Academy. What I got from the experience was clarity on multiple aspects of my business and an understanding of new ways to help my team thrive. As a result, I am energized to attack the final quarter of the year, even during a pandemic, as my very best self. I felt I got my money back by the second class!
Donna Feyen, More than A Review
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I joined Velvet Machete Leadership Academy to boost my confidence and discover new leadership strategies. Overall, it was an AWESOME experience. I discovered the difference between how I think about myself versus how other people think of me. I gained the needed confidence. I confirmed areas I was making good choices for my business and life, and discovered important areas of growth. Ultimately, I have a clearer understanding of myself and what a good leader truly is so I can be the best possible version of myself while influencing others.
Misty Miller, Finishing Touch
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I decided to join Velvet Machete Leadership Academy to ensure I had systems in place to lead a group of individuals to a common goal when I’m ready to open my newest business. I wanted to do the important leg work up front, so I’m prepared to run my business and motivate a team alongside me. I created a roadmap for my business by thoughtfully completing the course. I love that I can go back and revisit the areas I need to address as needed in the future.
A benefit of the course is being able to connect with leaders of other industries to discover what they do in their businesses. It gave me tons of inspiration for my own!
Jacki Kuehne, Self-Employed
Meet Your Instructor