Nichole (Atkinson) Michelson, APC, PCC, ELI-MP, Enneagram Certified
For years, I worked in corporate finance and lived inside the pace that so many high-performing women know well: pressure, responsibility, and success that looks great on paper, but often comes with a quieter internal cost. Over time, I became deeply interested in what happens beneath performance: the self-talk, the emotional load, the perfectionism, the overfunctioning, and the way so many women stay “capable” while feeling disconnected from themselves.
That’s what led me to create SOMA, an embodied leadership development platform designed to build inner capacity for women who carry a lot and are ready for a different way of leading. SOMA blends clinical depth with corporate performance fluency, integrating evidence-based tools with somatic practice (mindfulness, breathwork, regulation work) and facilitated group experience. The work helps women develop clarity under pressure, stronger boundaries, grounded confidence, and a steadier relationship with themselves.
At its core, SOMA is about becoming the kind of leader who can hold complexity without losing herself and creating spaces where women can grow, connect, and expand in a way that’s both powerful and sustainable.
• InnerLifeSkills Enneagram Coach Certification
• Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Practioner, Core Dynamics Secoalist
• PCC
• Nova Southeastern University - M.Psy.
• Young Men Service League
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the combination of my background in corporate finance and my training as a therapist and coach. That blend helps me translate “inner work” into outcomes women can actually feel in their daily lives: more clarity, steadiness, and confidence under pressure.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“Stop waiting to feel ready, build while you’re learning.” It helped me trust momentum over perfection and take action before everything was certain.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Build skills, yes, but prioritize building self-trust. Learn to regulate your nervous system, get honest about perfectionism early, and practice boundaries before burnout forces you to. Your success will grow faster when it’s supported by a steady inner foundation.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is that mental health and leadership support is more visible than ever, but it’s still often treated as an add-on instead of a core performance strategy. The opportunity is huge: organizations and individuals are finally realizing that sustainable success requires nervous system capacity, emotional fluency, and boundaries, not just productivity tools.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Alignment, Presence and courage. In my work and my life, I’m committed to living in a way that matches what I teach, slowing down enough to tell the truth, choosing what’s sustainable, and having the courage to evolve even when it would be easier to stay the same.
