Happy New Year! As I’ve pondered my 2026 word of the year, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we lead ourselves before we lead others. Most of us start a new year with a mix of reflection and forward momentum, but I kept coming back to one thought that feels bigger than “goal-setting.” […]
2026 Word of the Year Announcement Read More »
Since 2014, I’ve shared These 3 Words as a monthly practice—an intentional pause for introspection, inspiration, aspiration, and validation. Some years, the words arrive with diversity. Some years, they arrive with uniformity. In 2025, one word anchored everything: Thrive. Not hustle. Not endure. Not “push through.” Thrive. Over the course of the year, that
These 3 Words 2025 Recap: A Year of Learning How to Thrive Read More »
The Winter Solstice on Sunday, 12/21/25, marked the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It was a quiet threshold moment when darkness peaks and light began its slow return. You already know how much I love summer, but the Winter Solstice offered a leadership lesson I’ve learned to respect. Because winter
Winter Solstice Leadership: What Stillness Can Teach High-Performing Women of Color Read More »
For many high-performing Women of Color in leadership, the holiday season is anything but restful. It’s a time of year layered with expectations — at work, in our families, in our communities, and within ourselves. We’re closing out budgets and initiatives, showing up for end-of-year celebrations, holding space for others’ emotions, and often carrying
A Softer Way to Lead Through the Holidays: The S.O.F.T. Leadership™ Framework Read More »
There’s a truth I’ve learned over years of coaching high-performing Women of Color: Burnout doesn’t just drain your energy. Compassion fatigue doesn’t just exhaust your spirit. Both quietly chip away at the foundation every courageous leader depends on — self-trust. This loss isn’t loud. It doesn’t announce itself. It shows up quietly, almost undetected:
I’ve always been a self-reflective person. I journal. I check in with myself. I notice my emotions and patterns. But somewhere in the middle of years of overworking and over-delivering, a simple internal question stopped me: “Nicki… what do you want?” I Didn’t Know I Was Disconnected Until I Tried to Answer That Simple
I Didn’t Know I Was Disconnected Read More »
Today is the last day of November and I am ending the month slowly…softly…intentionally. Two months ago, I had an idea for big Black Friday offer that would start early, be available on Small Business Saturday, and end of Sunday – but likely be extended through Cyber Monday. I simultaneously decided to rebuild my
You Can Finish November S.O.F.T. Read More »
INTRODUCING The Power Hour: S.O.F.T. Leadership™ Strategy Session Because our leadership journeys aren’t just professional — they’re deeply personal. We navigate: • Unspoken expectations • Cultural and family obligations • The Strong Black Woman armor • Invisible emotional labor • The pressure to perform at work and at home • The internal conflict between
Women of Color Leaders Need a Space Like This Read More »
Leadership Liberation Tip: Pause and Prioritize A S.O.F.T. Leadership™ Practice for Sustainable Success High-performing Women of Color leaders are often conditioned to respond immediately, carry everything, and keep pushing — even when the pressure is unspoken and the labor is invisible. You’ve been taught that your value comes from your output, your resilience, and
Leadership Liberation Tip: Pause and Prioritize Read More »
Every few months, a new headline appears declaring that “this generation doesn’t want to work.” It’s a familiar refrain — one that crosses decades. Baby Boomers heard it about Gen X. Gen X heard it about Millennials. And now, Millennials are saying it about Gen Z. But if every generation has heard the same