Her Story
About Nicole
My career path started with criminal justice - I went to college for it because I was really interested in the field. But after I got my degree, I realized I really wanted to help people stay out of the criminal justice system rather than work within it. That led me to education and teaching, where I worked with students who had behavioral and learning disabilities. I'm most proud of that work - seeing those children become productive citizens out in the workforce, and a lot of them are now entrepreneurs. Today I run multiple businesses. I'm a publisher of a magazine, I create educational programs, and I also make candles. My main area of expertise is teaching people how to remain calm, because calm isn't just a personality trait, it's really a skill that people can develop. Every day looks different for me depending on which business I'm focusing on - some days are dedicated to writing, some days to educational programs, and some days to candle making. I have a lot of fun during the week because of that variety.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nicole
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say I attribute my success to my faith in God and my family upbringing. My mom was very big on education. My dad was always encouraging, you know, follow your dreams. You can do whatever you dream, like no dream is too big. That foundation of faith, education, and encouragement to dream big has been the driving force behind everything I've accomplished.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to her, stay positive, do what you're passionate about, follow your dreams, and if there are things that you want to explore, try those things. My goal is when I'm older in my rocker, not to have any regrets about what I wish I could have done when I was younger, so live life without regrets. In a positive way, though.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think some of the biggest challenges are with mental health - people understanding mental health, how to deal with people who are experiencing challenges with mental health. And I think one of the really biggest challenges for people is that we all know that there will be times where our feathers may get ruffled. And being able to regulate ourselves in real time, I think that's a huge challenge that people are dealing with.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is most important to me, honesty. Just being honest with people. That's the foundation of everything I do in both my work and personal life.
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