Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Draper.
Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was a kid, everyone told me I was bossy and wanted to be in control of everything.
Well, yes.
But I learned that with compassion, a few years under my belt, and team building, it could be a recipe for success.
If you mix that with my years of being a competitive cheerleader and dancer, along with attending a performing arts school, I’ve built a career that allows me to have the best of both worlds, a creator and a leader.
I initially thought I wanted to be a reporter or an anchor. It was during my internship that I fell in love with the process of figuring out how all the pieces fit together.
Years later, I am an Emmy nominated Executive Producer with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
I have newsroom experience spanning Texas, Florida, and Tennessee.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis, I began my career at KWTX in
Waco, where I previously interned. I later returned to my hometown to join FOX13 Memphis as a producer while pursuing a master’s degree in leadership from Belhaven University.
Following graduate school, I moved to Miami and joined NBC South Florida. There, I helped lead coverage of major news events, including the Surfside condominium collapse, which claimed the lives of 98 people, along with hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic, protests following the death of George Floyd, plane crashes, Olympic Games and more.
I was later promoted to Executive Producer.
In 2023, I was named one of MIA Media Group’s Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow. In 2024, I was recognized as one of South Florida’s Most Powerful and Influential Black Business Leaders.
Now at NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, I help lead coverage of major breaking news stories, including the deadly flash flooding in Kerr County where more than 100 people died and the ambush shooting at the Dallas ICE facility.
I have also collaborated with NBC News on stories featured on the Today Show and NBC Nightly News.
As a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, I’m passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and mentoring the next generation of journalists.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
You get comfortable being uncomfortable, fast.
If there’s a sacrifice to make, I’ve made it. Some were financial, some personal, and some simply came down to betting on myself.
I couldn’t get an internship in Memphis, where I was attending college. During a trip to Baylor University for my god-sister’s basketball game, I happened to meet some of the local on-air talent. They connected me with the person overseeing the internship program at the time. That opportunity jump-started my career and meant moving to Waco for the summer.
I started on the dayside shift, where the newsroom is on fire all the time. The morning anchor later offered me an opportunity to work the early morning shift. The morning show is typically a skeleton crew, and because they needed help, I had more opportunities to learn. That’s where I really began to understand how a newscast comes together and realized my passion was behind the scenes.
One week after graduating from the University of Memphis, I was offered my first job at the same station where I interned. The starting pay was $11.06 an hour, which I negotiated up to $12.50. A lot, right?
I was making more money at Nike as a sales associate. But I had to decide whether I wanted to make more money in the moment or invest in the career I wanted long-term. I chose the career.
My family helped me make the move back to Waco, and my brother’s best friend even helped fund my move. I’ll always be grateful for that support.
After about a year in Waco, I moved back to Memphis. At first, I struggled with feeling like I had taken a step backward after working so hard to leave home. Instead, that season taught me what it really means to hustle and be disciplined.
I worked the overnight shift at FOX13 Memphis, worked at Nike during the day, and went to night school to earn my master’s degree. It was exhausting, but it taught me how to manage my time, stay focused, and make the most of where I was.
Memphis ended up being a gift. I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best people in the business, and I met some of my closest friends. What initially felt like a setback became an important part of my growth.
And it didn’t end there.
Moving to Miami brought a different kind of sacrifice. I was thousands of miles from home, and that’s when the FOMO became real. You miss holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and major events because the news doesn’t stop. The further you move up in this business, the more it can feel like your personal time becomes limited. You learn that you’re often on call, even when you’re supposed to be off.
There’s also the exhaustion and emotional sacrifice that people don’t always see. I’ve covered some incredibly difficult stories. You’re constantly surrounded by people experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives. Those stories can stay with you.
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that you can’t do this alone.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a family that understands the demands of my career. No matter how near or far I’ve lived, they’ve always found a way to show up for me. My parents and brother have prioritized my career and supported me through every move.
And when duty calls, they’re always willing to make a trip to babysit their 10-year-old grand-dog, and my whole heart, Mr. Ritz the Yorkie.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When most people are going to bed, my day is just starting.
From there, I step into a fast-paced, demanding environment as an Executive Producer, leading and managing the overnight newsroom team.
I oversee editorial decisions and produce live newscasts.
I work closely with reporters, anchors, assignment editors, producers, and technical teams to make sure we’re ready to roll.
I’ve been described as “cool as a cucumber” in chaos and always willing to jump in and pick up whatever task is needed.
My specialty is leading in that space between preparation and unpredictability. And no one gives you a handbook on how to do it. You learn as you go.
I don’t know everything, and I don’t want to. Some of the best learning happens through collaboration.
That mindset comes from my own growth in the newsroom. I learned by doing, asking questions, making mistakes, and having people willing to challenge and encourage me along the way.
I try to give the people I lead that same experience.
I believe in transformational leadership over transactional leadership.
To me, it’s about investing in people, building trust, and helping those around you become better at what they do.
The most rewarding part of my career has been being a mentor and being mentored along the way.
I’m proud of the culture I’ve helped create within the teams I’ve led.
I want people to feel comfortable having conversations about anything and everything, especially when the work gets tough.
No matter how difficult the story is, we’re not just a machine spitting out the news. We’re human. We see a lot, and we tell people’s stories through their highest highs and lowest lows.
When all is said and done, one of the most powerful stories we tell is our own.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Whatever you pour into your passion, career, school, and life has a way of finding its way back to you. So, give it your best. Think of it as a long-term investment in yourself.
And make sure you love it. Because when you do, the good tends to outweigh the tough times.
Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
Think long-term and trust the process. It really does get greater later.
Be your own biggest advocate and cheerleader.
Stay coachable. Ask for feedback.
Take constructive criticism.
Build relationships.
Most importantly, keep showing up.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikardraper/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikardraper/
