Erik Solbakken

Erik is passionate about helping entrepreneurs contribute their Unique Ability® to the world.

A “recovered accountant” turned entrepreneur, Erik’s journey has been marked by a constant search for purpose and meaning—rocketing up to become the youngest partner in his accounting firm, creating several successful businesses in the financial sector, and ultimately launching The Viking Academy, a platform for igniting passionate, purposeful self-discovery.

Erik’s Unique Ability is “breaking people free from the oppression that's holding them back so they can recover the joy of living and experience freedom to creatively express themselves.” He believes business owners are the most important people on the planet—creating jobs, wealth, and ultimately contributing to a better world. To this end, he’s dedicated to helping other entrepreneurs achieve their goals.

He feels that the greatest gift he’s gotten from Strategic Coach^® has been permission to be himself—like the way a joking, offhand reference in a workshop to his childhood nickname “Erik the Viking” quickly deepened and grew, turning his warrior intensity and abundant playfulness into a whole new system for teaching.

But, he says, you not only have permission to be yourself, you also have a responsibility to be you, because that’s who you need to be to contribute the most to your business, and ultimately to the universe. “The more you can be you and contribute to others being themselves—that's when beautiful things happen.”

Erik resides in North Saanich, British Columbia.