Your certified guide to
Transformational Strategies
Meet the coach
Erika Barnes Ford is a seasoned Political Strategist based in Roswell, Georgia. Through her firm, The Candidate's Coach, a subsidiary of Southern Solutions, LLC, she provides full-service campaign management, specializing in candidate development, recruitment, and messaging. With nearly 30 years of experience in municipal and nonprofit management, advocacy, and strategic planning, Erika focuses on social justice reform, creative public policy, and reframing inaccurate historical narratives.
A Woodruff Scholar graduate of Agnes Scott College (BA in History/Africana Studies), Erika holds a Master of Public Administration from Troy University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Change at Pepperdine University. Her research emphasis includes understanding the impacts of barriers to the electability of Black women seeking political office, empathetic leadership, mitigating racial bias, and social justice inclusive K-12 curriculum development, as well as an interest in immigration policy reform. Erika also serves on executive boards for several organizations, including the Mack Henry Brown Remembrance Coalition in collaboration with the Equal Justice Initiative and the North Fulton NAACP.
Determined to prioritize and center Black women in leadership, Erika ‘s mission with The Candidate’s Coach is to increase Black female political representation to achieve equitable representation.
Creating a plan that works for you
Train Like a Pro
Through online lessons and live events, learn the essentials of running a campaign. Our training rivals programs like EMERGE and Run Now.
Recruiting the Dream Team
Build a powerhouse campaign team. I’ll coach you on identifying, recruiting, and empowering the right people to elevate your campaign.
Message Like a Leader
Your voice matters. Develop clear, compelling messaging that resonates with voters and sets you apart from the competition.
Live Events & Workshops
Join transformative sessions designed to build your confidence, sharpen your skills, and connect you with like-minded leaders ready to change the game.
Learn to Win
With decades of expertise, I’ll teach you the art of running a winning campaign—from strategy and planning to execution and beyond.
Unleash Your Political Superpower
Discover the unique qualities that make you the best candidate. Through one-on-one coaching, we’ll uncover your strengths and teach you how to leverage them for success.
Winning Campaign Strategies
From recruitment to election day, I craft custom strategies designed to win. Get step-by-step guidance on how to navigate your path to victory.
Your Campaign, Managed
Relax while we handle the details. Our full-service campaign management ensures your message, platform, and team work seamlessly to achieve your goals.
The Candidate’s Playbook
Gain access to expert tools and proven strategies to prepare for your run, including platform development, issue framing, and messaging mastery.
Empowering Black Women for Political Success
Elevating Black Women in Leadership
Direct & Bold:
"Challenging the biases that keep capable leaders from winning—because elections should be about qualifications, not perceptions."
Empowering & Transformative:
"Empowering candidates to break barriers, challenge biases, and redefine electability in every community."
Strategic & Solution-Oriented:
"Exposing and eliminating the biases that hinder diverse leadership—through data-driven strategy, messaging, and voter education."
Focused on Women & Representation:
"Equipping women, especially Black women, with the tools to confront bias, shape their narrative, and secure their seat at the table."
