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 »
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 »
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 »
Welcome to September! September Is: Self-Care Awareness Month International Update Your Resume Month Emergency Preparedness Month I’m back from my August travels and ready to join “The Great Lock-In”. Are you locking in? Travel Enhances Leadership! New perspectives Restoration and rejuvenation Ignited curiosity My Travel Mantras: The world is my classroom The world is
My 2025 Travel Recap Read More »
Most people think of burnout recovery as catching their breath, lightening their workload, or taking a much-needed break. And while rest is essential, it’s not the whole story. Because burnout recovery is only part of the work. The real transformation happens when you reclaim your identity — when you stop living in survival mode
Burnout Recovery Isn’t Enough – The Real Transformation Is Reclaiming Your Identity Read More »
What if saying “yes” to yourself wasn’t selfish – but sacred? In this powerful and personal video, I unpack what it really means to lead without losing yourself. Inspired by the bold examples of Shonda Rhimes’ “Year of Yes,” and Jeannette Reye’s “Summer of Si’”, I explore how high-performing Women of Color in leadership
Say Yes To You – Leading Without Limiting Yourself Read More »
If you know my career story, you know that I experienced both compassion fatigue and professional burnout. But for us high-performing Women if Color in leadership, sometimes what we call burnout is identity loss. Here’s how it may be showing up: ✅ You’ve been over-functioning for years, silence can feel unfamiliar or even scary.
Reconnect with Yourself After Burnout Read More »
After two decades of teaching, training, hiring, supervising, and leading multigenerational, multidisciplinary teams, I’ve come to a simple but powerful truth: You can’t separate you from your work. Leadership is not just a professional responsibility, it’s a deep personal relationship with how you live, lead, and love yourself. I’ve told my truth about burnout
This Isn’t a Social Work Pivot, It’s a Reclamation of My Full Identity Read More »
Here’s Why Women of Color Leaders Must Choose Sustainable Success For as long as many of us can remember, leadership has been synonymous with performance. We’ve been praised for our productivity, our resilience, and our ability to get things done – at all costs. Especially for Women of Color leaders, this expectation has become
Leadership Isn’t Just About Performance, It’s About Preservation Read More »