At first glance, Erin Patten seems like any other highly successful millennial. With an impressive academic pedigree that includes graduating at the top of her class and earning a coveted spot at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, she appeared destined for corporate greatness and global leadership from a young age. However, behind the veneer of achievement lies a powerful story of resilience, healing, and an extraordinary awakening that has defined her purpose and path in life.
From Trauma to Triumph
Erin’s journey began in adversity. Born prematurely at just four pounds, she spent her first two weeks fighting for life in an incubator. She entered a world marred by family dysfunction – her parents had already separated, and her mother was struggling with mental illness. The circumstances forced her to shoulder immense responsibilities from a tender age. Then tragedy struck in 1991, when Erin was just six years old, with the devastating murder of her 21-year-old sister, Ericka. The loss shattered their family, leaving her mother consumed by grief as the pain engulfed their home.
Amidst the turmoil, Erin’s father’s absence further compounded their struggles. He was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for pharmaceutical fraud shortly after her sister’s death. Erin was left to grapple with the profound void left by the losses of both her sister and father. It was a crucible of chaos and anguish that most children could never fathom.
Despite the challenges, Erin found solace and strength in pursuits that brought her joy – dance, sports, beauty pageants, and music became her sanctuaries. Her resilience and drive propelled her academically as well, and she graduated at the top of her class, earning acceptance to elite universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Duke. She chose the University of Texas at Austin, double majoring at the McCombs School of Business and Plan II Honors Program on a full academic scholarship, continuing her pattern of high achievement even as she battled emerging addictions to alcohol.
The Road to Reinvention
After college, Erin pursued a career in New York’s fashion industry, working in styling, marketing, and e-commerce roles. However, it was there that she experienced firsthand the insidious effects of discrimination based on her natural hair and ethnic background.
One defining moment occurred when she was in an incident involving discrimination against her natural Afro hairstyle, which led to an encounter with her direct manager. When human resources failed to address the situation appropriately, Erin made the powerful decision to resign in defiance of their discriminatory practices.
She realized that the world was simply mirroring her own insecurities. Her interactions with colleagues and bosses were so contentious because she was seeking external validation instead of embracing her authentic self.
This realization catalyzed a period of profound self-reflection. Despite her achievements, Erin was still a high-functioning individual grappling with the long-buried traumas of her past. She knew she needed to find a new path forward.
She began by returning to her roots, volunteering in her community and reconnecting with her faith through the Catholic Church. Inspired by the success stories of Harvard alumni she admired, Erin decided to pursue an MBA and MPP, hoping it would provide the tools to create a more positive impact on the world.
The Metamorphosis Begins
Erin’s journey to Harvard was not without its challenges. She faced rejection in her first attempt at applying and testing her resilience and determination. But she refused to abandon her dream, and her perseverance ultimately paid off when she achieved an impressive GMAT score, leading to her acceptance to the prestigious dual masters program at both Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Her time at Harvard was utterly transformative. She immersed herself fully in her studies, engaging with brilliant minds and soaking up knowledge from esteemed faculty. Beyond academics, Harvard provided an invaluable community that encouraged her to explore her potential and pursue her passions fearlessly.
Erin had incredible opportunities, from internships at prestigious companies to interacting with influential figures like Governor Deval Patrick. She traveled to Japan, North Korea, Turkey, and Brazil (just to name a few), engaging with international students and gaining exposure to different cultures and perspectives. These experiences expanded her understanding of the systemic forces shaping societies and institutions.
Yet, amid the prestige and networking, Erin couldn’t shake the feeling that something foundational was missing – a deeper sense of purpose beyond societal markers of success like wealth and status.
She had achieved everything she thought she wanted, but she still felt incomplete. That’s when she realized that true fulfillment could only come from within by confronting and healing the traumas of her past.
A New Beginning
After graduating from Harvard, Erin moved to Detroit with the intention of being part of the revitalization happening there as it emerged from bankruptcy. She plunged into her philanthropic role and found herself again navigating the complexity of a toxic work environment where she struggled to have a voice and be seen. On top of that, she was isolated from family and friends in a very abusive romantic relationship.
Motivated to do business her way, Erin transitioned from corporate life and launched her first business, a plant-based beauty brand inspired by her discriminatory hair experience in New York. At the time, she was still very insecure and easily swayed. She was convinced to add her abusive partner to the company filing documents as its co-founder without him contributing anything financially, professionally or even having any connection at all to her hair story.
The company did well as Erin had been conditioned to be highly functioning in very traumatic situations, yet when the first hair product hit the market, her father unexpectedly passed away, and a few weeks later, her best friend met a violent end while on vacation in Jamaica. Then, a few months after that, as she was launching the full product line in Macy’s, her mom attempted to take her own life as she secretly suffered from psychosis and schizophrenia.
At this point, everything stopped. Erin’s business. Her abusive relationship. And she moved to Houston to be with her mom.
It was time for her to come back home and heal.
Erin had already begun to explore spiritual teachings as she was building her beauty brand, but this realization marked the beginning of her spiritual journey of emotional healing and self-discovery. She confronted the deep traumas of her childhood head-on, releasing long-suppressed emotional burdens through inner work.
The journey was arduous as she navigated the profound losses – her father’s passing, her mother’s mental health crises, including her devastating attempt to end her life, and the collapse of business dealings and legal battles that threatened her financial security.
Finding Peace Within
Through intensive study, extended periods of solitude and self-reflection, and the devoted practice of healing modalities like affirmations, yoga and taichi, Erin began developing a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of existence – how thoughts, emotions, and actions create ripple effects that impacts those around oneself and society.
This awakening provided her with an awareness of how her own unresolved traumas had manifested in her life, influencing everything from her physical and mental health to her relationships and career path. She saw undeniable connections, like how the immense stresses and emotional turmoil had contributed to her son Harleaux’s severe digestive issues as a baby.
The Path Forward
This wisdom has instilled within Erin an unshakable sense of purpose – to share the insights of her journey in order to guide others along their own paths of self-realization, healing, and conscious growth. To manifest this vision, she created the MetaBusiness Methodology to teach other leaders how to embody higher consciousness while doing business and a podcast, the MetaBusiness Millennial, as a vessel for having real, unfiltered conversations.
Erin’s mission is to empower organizational leaders to break free from the self-limiting beliefs, patterns, and traumas that constrain their lives. By sharing the profound teachings and experiences that transformed her life, she intends to inspire leaders to embark on their own inward journeys of awakening so they, too, can thrive and realize their potential.
In this endeavor, she is fueled by an unwavering belief in the human spirit’s capacity to overcome any darkness or obstacle once one awakens to their nature and power. Erin’s extraordinary journey from trauma and turmoil to enlightenment and metamorphosis stands as a beacon of what’s possible.
As Erin moves forward, she carries the lessons reverently: That everyone is interconnected beings, inseparable from each other and the universe. Her life’s purpose is to share this truth and help others awaken to it. For in that awakening lies the key to individual transformation and collective thriving.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
