ERICKA K. GIBSON | Founder, A Girls Gift, Inc.

Ericka K. Gibson is a woman described by friends and colleagues with three powerful words: fearless, a motivator, and a visionary. A dedicated attorney, entrepreneur, and passionate philanthropist, Ericka co-founded A Girls Gift, Inc. on the firm belief that every girl possesses a unique, precious talent waiting to be discovered and shared with the world.

A respected member of the Indianapolis, IN and Charlotte, NC communities for many years, Ericka successfully helmed local A Girls Gift chapters, developing and running impactful programming, including the prestigious Cotillion and multiple sessions of the core business development curriculum.

Ericka's professional expertise is as vast as her philanthropic reach. She currently maintains a successful legal practice focusing on the critical areas of estate planning, business, and real estate. Ericka’s business acumen was built upon a foundation of previous success in domestic relations mediation, management consulting, and establishing a successful family and real estate law practice in Chicago. Her leadership experience includes numerous service-based roles, such as serving as Co-Chair of Beautillion Militaire, and holding key positions in organizations like Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and the American Women's Club of Brussels.

Now, Ericka is thrilled to announce her return to her home city of Chicago, Illinois. She is committed to leveraging her experience as a serial entrepreneur to empower and guide the next generation of business-minded high school girls through the expansion of A Girls Gift.

As the proud mother of two college graduates (Howard University and Stanford University) and a 9th grade- high school student, Ericka is constantly inspired by the young women around her. Her personal journey—which started in a Chicago home of seven girls and was shaped by her mother’s example of raising compassionate, smart, and assertive young women—fuels her drive to truly show girls the way to entrepreneurial success and purposeful living.

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DESHONG PERRY-SMITHERMAN is proud of her role as co-founder of A Girl’s Gift Inc. Her biggest hope is that Girls come out of this program with a higher level of self esteem. She feels that if Girls can work with each other in a non-threatening, non-assuming environment where mentors guide them through activities, conversations, and positive self-talk – they’ll eventually feel more confident about who they are, what they can be, and what they’ll accept in their lives.

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DeShong works as a global communications manager at Eli Lilly & Company, where she leads external communications for products within the pharmaceutical company's diabetes unit.  Prior to her current role, she led US corporate communications for AES Corp., a Fortune 200 global energy company, and managed public relations for the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis.  DeShong's passion for communication spreads beyond her 9-to-5, through her work as an adjunct instructor at the University of Indianapolis. Each semester DeShong can be found in her classroom helping college kids learn the tools to effective communication in public speaking and PR. This Emmy-award winning former television news producer began her career as a researcher for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and then continued climbing the producer ladder at NBC and CBS affiliates across the country. DeShong also has experience as an entertainment columnist and radio news anchor. She has written for The Arizona Republic and spent three years as a weekend news anchor for Network Indiana.

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DeShong earned a Bachelors degree from Roosevelt University and a Masters from the University of Illinois. She also has a certificate in Media Management from Northwestern University. DeShong, her husband Keith and three children reside in Indianapolis.