Erica Wood: Founder/CEO at Client Journey Advisors

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business

My name is Erica Wood, Founder of Client Journey Advisors. I help CEOs of growing service based companies (especially in the virtual assistant staffing industry) increase client retention by 20% in just 3 months. With 20+ years in client experience, I’ve maintained a 94% retention rate across portfolios of up to 80 clients and orchestrated over 100+ successful client–VA onboarding experiences.

Who are your customers?

CEOs of growing service based companies

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

20+ years in client experience within both the medical industry and virtual assistant staffing industry

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I had 2 different layoffs and decided after the last one, that I couldn't go back into another corporate job where what I am doing isn't valued. 

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No, in fact, I thought I would never be an entrepreneur as I was afraid of not having a steady income/benefits and didn't have the skills to do it on my own.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

My biggest challenge has been finding my first client.  I have learned networking is the way to go.  I have met so many people via Entreprenista League that have lead to great productive conversations.  I'm hoping this will help lead me to my first client.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

The biggest accomplishment I have most proud of is having the guts to start my own business, follow my passion, and knowing that I can do this. 💪🏻

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

Being chosen to present at the Solopreneur Systems Summit.  It's such an honor to help a fellow Entreprenista and share my knowledge/expertise with other female entrepreneurs 

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Right now, I’m focused on signing my first client, but I have a clear vision for where this is going. Over the next few years, I see my business growing into a trusted partner for service-based companies who want to scale without sacrificing the clients they’ve already worked so hard to earn. I’d love to build a small, values-driven team and continue creating high-impact, human-centered client experiences that fuel long-term loyalty and growth.

What is your top productivity tip?

Start by clarifying what only you can do, and build your systems to delegate the rest. Productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right things with intention. When you protect your energy for high-impact work, everything moves with more clarity and purpose.

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

I keep my work week scheduled between Monday- Friday, 9am-5pm.  I really protect my personal time and prioritize family/friends over work. 

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

I sign off at 5pm EST everyday and come Friday afternoon, I sign off for the full weekend.  I used to work in healthcare, so I know what "life and death" looks like, the work I am doing is not "life and death", so it can always wait.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

Honestly, you guys do such an amazing job of onboarding and giving opportunities for people to maximize their membership, that I completely felt taken care of when I started.  This has been one of the best experiences I have ever had. 

What's the one app on your phone you absolutely cannot live without and why?

Waze!  Living in a bigger city with lots of traffic, Waze is a must to get around all the chaos. 

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

ChatGPT is hands-down my favorite tool. It helps me streamline my thoughts, generate ideas, and save time on everything from content creation to client communication. It’s like having a creative partner on demand — helping me work smarter without sacrificing quality.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

You’ve got this — and you don’t have to do it alone. The road to entrepreneurship isn’t easy, but being part of the Entreprenista community gives you the support, encouragement, and sense of belonging you need to keep going. Surround yourself with people who get it, and keep showing up. Your vision is worth it.

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