Erika Speed in

Erika Speed

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Director, Live Programming at Forbes
📍 New York City Metropolitan Area, United States

Erika Speed is the Director of Live Programming at Forbes, where she leverages over 15 years of experience creating impactful corporate and social experiences. A graduate of Hampton University, she is described as creative, kind, detail-oriented, and a community builder. She architected the end-to-end programming strategy for Forbes events.

Erika is passionate about fostering authentic connections and creating inclusive, engaging environments where people and ideas can thrive. She is deeply committed to impactful womens programming and believes in creating intentional spaces for connection, which she views as a personal, not just professional, mission.

She was named one of the Top 50 Power Players in the events industry by The Event Planner Expo 2025 and serves as VP of Professional Programming on the board of New York Women In Communications.

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Experience
18 Years
Current Role
Director, Live Programming
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
New York City Metropolitan Area, United States
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

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Priorities

Topics Erika cares about

Experiential Events
Her entire career, from Chief Experience Officer to her current role at Forbes, focuses on designing and executing large-scale, impactful live and virtual brand experiences.
Women's Empowerment
She recently joined the board of New York Women In Communications as VP of Professional Programming and states she is extremely passionate about creating impactful women's programming.
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Career

Work history

10-2020
Director, Live Programming
Forbes
10-2009
Chief Experience Officer
The Cre8tive Artisan
2-2020 - 5-2020
Programming Manager
Forbes
6-2018 - 4-2019
Community Manager, CLUB 75
Convene
11-2015 - 3-2017
Lifestyle Director
One Sixty Madison / NFC Amenity Management
In the press

Media appearances

53. This is how Forbes does Events with Erika Speed. Featured in Apple Podcasts
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Curating Authentic Spaces of Diversity with Erika Speed, Forbes by .... Featured in Spotify (Creators)
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Education
Bachelor of Arts - BA
Hampton University
Education details unavailable
The Lexington School
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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