ABOUT nicole
Moving beyond the rules to create authentic leadership and lasting impact
I grew up in a middle class, suburban home with two parents, two cars, and all my essential needs met. When I took a job as a teacher in a low-income neighborhood in my early twenties, it was an eye-opener into just how privileged my life had been and how blind I was to other perspectives and experiences. I have always loved the curiosity, creativity, and joy of being around children, but I realized quickly that my mission was to help adults reconnect to their own inherent curiosity, creativity, and joy to create better schools, better working environments, and strong communities where all could feel a sense of belonging and have opportunities to give, receive, and build something together.
My journey into leadership development and coaching took root in 2012, during a transformative seminar where I first encountered the concepts of different states of mind, perspectives, and the idea of wholeness as it applies to both individuals and groups. It was as though I had found the missing link I’d been searching for. As I incorporated these insights into my work, I noticed a common struggle among the people and teams I worked with—an inability to recognize or access their personal agency and take ownership of their outcomes. This discovery led me deeper into research on adult development, emotional intelligence, and the impacts of compassion on systems thinking and decision making. What I’ve discovered both in theory and practice is, the most effective leaders are those who can recognize and acknowledge their limitations without defensiveness and commit to getting better at getting out of their own way.
The most effective leaders are those that recognize their limitations and commit to getting better.
This truth became even clearer during one of the most challenging periods of my life—my divorce. I had always been great at figuring out what someone else expected or wanted from me and I would rise to meet or exceed their expectations. But even though I had played by the apparent rules of others, and did all the things I thought I was supposed to, it was clear my marriage, my career, and my life had travelled down a path that didn’t reflect or respect who I truly was on the inside.
This life crisis forced me to confront and challenge the beliefs, values that had led me here. If I was going to survive this undoing, I would need to examine myself with new eyes to reimagine and redesign my life. I had to expose the most authentic and vulnerable parts of myself and expand my resiliency capacity to clear a new path forward.
Because of this experience, I have a new understanding for the deep importance of connection and community with others and self, what living with integrity is and is not, and the many opportunities that float in and out of our days to give and receive in harmony with the world around us. I also see the need for women to speak up and support one another in the development of unique skills and competencies like compassion, empathy, connection, and interdependence, that often distinguish female leadership from traditional male-centric models.
Leadership is not a position we hold, it’s a mindset; it’s how we see ourselves, how we interact with others, and how we take ownership for the future we hope to create and our part in ushering it in. Capable leaders manage their emotional and mental resilience, practice self-awareness and know how and when to regulate themselves, and take responsiblity for the impact they have, intended or not, on others.
Over the course of my career, I have travelled across the state of Texas and our country, working with school leaders, providing training and coaching, and seeing first hand what leaders and teams do that consistently works, what doesn’t, and what conditions are necessary for a healthy culture. I’ve also seen what happens when we use our energy to blame and justify instead of take responsibility. My work is rooted in a deep understanding of leadership dynamics and personal development, with a focus on women leaders, educational institutions, collaborative teams and redesigning internal and external systems for improved outcomes. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Art History and a Master’s in Educational Administration, alongside various certifications in resilience building, immunity to change mapping, coaching, and the science of happiness.
At the heart of my work are core values of Connection, Integrity, and Compassion:
I believe in the power of deep, personal connection with oneself and others. We have an innate need to be seen and connected in meaningful relationships and to feel a sense of belonging.
The courage to live with integrity is a life-long journey of self discovery, establishing and refining boundaries, and carving your own path without waiting for permission from someone else. Integrity is about being honest with yourself first, and aligning who you are from the inside out.
Compassion requires empathy, multiple perspectives, and a willingness to help others. Every moment is an opportunity to live with intention and choose your impact. I strive to take advantage of small moments and provide value through intentional living.
Listen to the Podcast
Lead from the Middle is the podcast for women ready to lead with courage, confidence, and conviction, right from where you are.
