Dr. Eric Zakrison is a seasoned leadership development, communication, and strategic planning expert. With an MBA and MA from Missouri State University and a PhD in Organizational Communication from UCSB, he merges his academic credentials with nearly 30 years of practical management experience to deliver insights that transform individuals, workplace relationships, teams, and organizations. His work as a continuing lecturing professor at UCSB in the Department of Technology Management allows him to stay abreast of the latest research, which he translates into actionable skills for his audiences. Through his speaking engagements, workshops, consulting, and training sessions, Eric ensures that participants walk away with practical tools to improve leadership and teamwork. His over 1.3 million views on Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera attest to his ability to engage and inspire, making him a sought-after speaker, trainer, and consultant. He works with a wide range of organizations from civic organizations like the City of Santa Barbara, to international non-profits like the Health Standards Organization to high-tech corporations like Red Wire Space. Additionally, he works with two non-profits in the Santa Barbara/Ventura County area, Women's Economic Ventures and the Economic Development Collaborative, to support small businesses.