Nicole D.W. Monia

I attribute my success to being honest and flawed, and taking that as an honor badge. If somebody comes up to you and they tell you that they're perfect and everything goes right, run. There are skeletons in their closet somewhere. I think that if you are an influential woman, of course you are winning thats great in life right, but those wins come with losses. And that's what makes you influential. That makes you honest. Everything that I do, I do from a place of integrity, and I do it from my heart. To really sum it up my success is built on my character, just as much as my talent. I am humble first. True story people laugh when I tell them that I have gone from having a million dollars driving a Maserati, to having to drive a $500 busted Honda and going to a food pantry to get food. I know both ends of the spectrum. Those lessons have made me even more generous at times with my limited resources, which is why I formed my 501 (c)(3). Service to others is priceless. But most important, I am always grateful for the opportunites that are given and the genuine people that are place in my life. Even if it only for a season.

I have received lots of great advice over my career, however I will fall back on the most recent. If you do not celebrate yourself and share your accomplishments with others then who will? Start taking pictures and making videos because not only is this building your brand, it is going to help you get funding for the charity. Plus this shows that what is seen on paper is what you are doing in real life. Funny, my mantra has always been no one likes a show off.

Fast forward not even a month later, I was went to lunch with a someone and told them about the project and a great fundraiser I was super proud of and now I am moving towards the fall scholarship Peak. She immediately asked for the website (I had pictures and videos from the news clip) and said that they have a trust at their firm that she could look at an invited me to their gala. The following week my boss wanted me to cancel an event but would not tell me why exactly, although I found out later. But in the midst of me pleading my case and explaining that its my job to keep employee wellness top of mind, I brought up my article I was interviewed for that was published across over 300 media outlets nationwide about wellness and employee burnout. I sent it to him and he read it. Not only did he read it, because everyone tells me everything, when a Director starting talking to him about something, he referenced it, then printed it to show the findings based on myself and the other HR professionals that were interviewed.

So telling others about your achievements builds your credibility and creates opportunites to showcase your expertise in your field. Not to mention if no one sees the impact, they can not support or celebrate you. I had a light bulb moment! Share accomplishments with confidence and gratitude. Now that's something I can do.

Back in the day my favorite book was Nice Girls Dont Get the Corner Office. It was a time where women were still not seen as equal in the work place and we had to watch our tone a little. However I learned quickly how to play hardball. Now fast forward 26 years at the age of 50, I can say coming into Government, Insurance and Human Resources, the rules have changed. Women are more strategic, we are heard, we are the voice of the organization and we learn the business and not just the job. The industry is full of mentors now providing a strong network that allows for professional opportunities to build relationships. You can have a successful career in a field that you love and can grow and allow you to flourish and empower others. Let your character open doors for you and stay confident enough to lead and take on the right opportunities when they present themselves.

Right now, we're navigating a challenging situation that has created a great deal of tension and uncertainty within the organization. When employees, leadership teams, or board members are facing heightened criticism, conflict, or difficult interactions, it inevitably affects the workplace environment and employee morale.

As an HR professional, you're constantly thinking about how employees are feeling, what concerns they may have, and how these circumstances are affecting their well-being and engagement. Much of the focus shifts toward supporting others, monitoring workplace sentiment, and helping employees navigate uncertainty, often while setting aside your own concerns.

These situations can create an uncomfortable atmosphere across the organization. Even routine activities that are typically designed to boost morale and bring people together can become difficult to plan because of concerns about how they may be perceived or received.

Other emotionally challenging aspects of HR is managing difficult personnel decisions, particularly when it involves terminating an employee. From the outside, it may appear to be simply part of the job, but those conversations carry a significant emotional weight. While employees may only see the professional side of the process, HR professionals often carry the impact long after the conversation is over. By the end of the day, those experiences can be emotionally draining and take a substantial personal toll.

At the core of everything I do is a desire to help people. Whether it's through my nonprofit work, my podcast, or the many projects and "shenanigans" I find myself involved in, it all stems from the same purpose: making a positive impact and connecting with others.

I believe authenticity matters. There are plenty of successful and influential people who share their accomplishments, but I think it's equally important to acknowledge the challenges and setbacks that helped shape those successes. You can't have wins without losses, and I've learned to embrace my imperfections as badges of honor. They've made me who I am. These values were instilled in me by my parents who made sure I knew early on that to others some things may be a mistake, however make sure to remember its not a mistake, its a lesson. Learn from it move on and build upon it. This trickles down to both my work and professional life.

Outside of work, my greatest joy is spending time with my family, my mom lives with me and I talk with my Dad just about every day. I am the oldest of three and I have two brothers under me. Funny that they still call me the little sister. My pride and joy will and always be my three sons now adults. My little twinkles in my eyes are my grandchildren, two carry my name. My youngest grandson is 8 months old and keeps me on my toes—I recently spent the weekend with him, and he certainly made sure I stayed active! My oldest granddaughter is 13 and lives in Texas, and I'm looking forward to visiting her this summer. I also have two 11 year olds, a 7 year old and two 3 year old grandkids, never a dull moment when they are around.

My husband and I were recently married, and we're excited to celebrate our first anniversary this September. He has a son that we are both super proud of that is in the Navy, the youngest to our brood. These days, we enjoy life's simpler pleasures—attending local concerts, spending quiet evenings together, and appreciating quality time with one another since our work schedules are so hectic.

I'm also passionate about cooking and entertaining. Little know fact, I hold both food service and bartending licenses, and I occasionally put those skills to use for friends and family using my unofficial Franic Occassions business . One of my favorite creative outlets is developing homemade cocktail syrups and recipes. Just last night, I made a home made fig and brown sugar syrup designed for a Brown Sugar Bourbon Cocktail. I love the process of experimenting, creating, and bringing people together through food and drinks.

Whether professionally or personally, I find the most fulfillment in creating meaningful experiences, building connections, and helping others along the way.