about

34-year-old Chicago native Erin Weed is an award-winning speaker, author, consultant and social entrepreneur. As Founder + CEO of Girls Fight Back, Erin is a crusader for creatively sparking social change. Believing each of us has the ability to improve our world, a colleague of Erin’s recently described her as “a divine mish-mash of stardust and guts.”

Erin’s calling to the field of violence prevention began in 2001 at age 23 after the murder of her friend and Alpha Phi sorority sister, Shannon McNamara, near the campus of Eastern Illinois University. At the time Erin was a documentary producer working in New York City, but after Shannon’s death Erin abandoned her television ambitions to study with the world’s best experts in violence prevention. She began traveling the nation giving keynotes and seminars in schools and businesses using a unique blend of practical personal safety strategies, cutting-edge research, effective self-defense moves and laugh-out-loud humor.

In 2009, Erin trained a team of speakers based around the USA to deliver these speaking engagements. In 2010, she expanded the team to include India and Pakistan. In 2012, the company will be growing into several nations in Africa. To fund these global education efforts in countries that do not have the necessary financial resources, the non-profit Girls Fight Back Foundation was established. To date, the global GFB team has spoken to one million people.

Erin has been featured in media including: New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Marie Claire, Glamour, Ladies Home Journal and was named “CosmoGirl of the Year” by CosmoGirl magazine. She was the featured safety expert in a CNN expose about the dangers of spring break, and has appeared twice as a violence prevention expert on the Fox Newschannel crime show “The Lineup.”  Most recently she was a guest on the CBS Early Show and Weekend Today.  Watch video of Erin’s media appearances HERE.

Erin wrote a personal safety and self-defense monthly column for CosmoGirl magazine between 2004-2005, and has also contributed to safety articles for Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and hundreds of local newspapers and radio shows. Her first book, Girls Fight Back! The College Girl’s Guide to Protecting Herself was published in 2006, and is now in its 3rd edition. Erin’s blog is largely dedicated to social change, women’s issues and entrepreneurship. She actively participates in social networking via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Erin is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University, with a B.A. in Speech Communication and a minor in Public Relations. She was awarded the Eastern Illinois University Young Alumnus of the Year Award in 2003 and was honored with the “Hometown Hero” award by John Walsh (founder of America’s Most Wanted) on NBC’s The John Walsh Show. In 2006, Erin was named “30 Under 30” by New Jersey Monthly magazine, and was the recipient of the Joel Goldman Award for professional speaking excellence. Erin is a member of the National Speakers Association, and was named Best Female Performer in 2009 by Campus Activities Magazine. Erin is represented by several top speakers bureaus including Bass Schuler Entertainment and CAMPUSPEAK, and is a member of Rotary Club International and Alpha Phi Fraternity.

Erin has studied with or holds certifications in the following self-defense systems: FAST Defense, Blauer Tactical Systems, the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, R.A.D. Systems, the American Women’s Self Defense Association, Street Smart Self Defense Academy, Krav Maga, Prepare Inc. of New York City and the Modern Warrior Academy. Erin’s specialized training includes: car jacking situations, multiple assailant attacks, edged weapons defense and firearms training. She is a two-time graduate of the Gavin de Becker & Associates Advanced Threat Assessment Academy (2005 & 2010) which included in-depth training in: violence prediction, threat assessment, public figure protection, intuition studies, terrorism, school shootings, criminal profiles, bomb threats, risk management, how to hire/fire employees, managing victim fear and workplace violence.