Is it possible to effectively lead a team with so many different personalities? Absolutely.

Ask a thousand leaders what gets in their way, and they'll say two things: time and "personalities." Every team member brings their own qualities and quirks, but difference doesn't have to be debilitating. In fact, it can be inspiring. Nicole believes that with the right strategies you can have a high-performing team where everyone's hard work pays off, professionally and personally.

Can you make mistakes and still be an awesome leader? No doubt.

Teams are made up of people, and people are imperfect. Nicole starts with that. Her transparency allows others to learn from some of her mistakes, and it helps them to avoid the same pitfalls on their journeys. Her authenticity and accessibility has earned Nicole the nickname "back pocket" coach, with insights and strategies that clients can recall on the spot and apply in times of need.

Nicole herself is a lively paradox — honest but kind, firm yet empathic, street-savvy and buttoned-up. She's a scholar who can make it plain, a practitioner who knows she's still learning. Her personal stories, comedic approach, and real-world experiences connect Nicole to her audiences, and that helps them to get out of their own way.

If leadership is anything, it's personal.

This is the very belief that fuels Lively Paradox. That's why Nicole helps you dig into your passion, find your specific purpose, and leverage your individual prowess. Through leadership development, coaching and consulting, keynotes, and a variety of other resources, she helps people take charge of determining a fuller, more interesting existence for themselves — of leading their whole lives.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master of Education degree in adult education from Park University. She is certified in many of the leading assessment tools and, as part of her practice, works with some of the best and brightest in leadership development. Nicole has led enterprise-wide leadership development efforts within a Fortune 500 company, and she has consulted with hundreds of organizations on leadership, accountability, change management, and diversity & inclusion.