Your certified guide to
Transformational Strategies
WORK WITH This team!
1:1 Coaching
The ideal choice if you want a personalized plan that is tailored to your goals and lifestyle.
online LESSONS
Explore campaigning principles on your own schedule through a variety of online lessons.
live EVENTS
Begin or extend your political journey with full access to our beginner-friendly live webinars and events.
Professional
Guidance
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 changing 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.
Coaching
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
