Nicole is a passionate executive leadership coach, professional development creator, and educator who aims to cultivate the next generation of empowered, thriving leaders. With a 25-year career in education, Nicole has served in multiple roles, including as a Chicago Public Schools principal, middle grades educator, and district program manager, fostering excellence and equity at every level. Living with Multiple Sclerosis, Nicole has discovered how to find purpose in her pain, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. Her journey fuels her passion for empowering others to overcome obstacles and lead with authenticity and resilience.
As Founder of Emerge the Soul LLC, Nicole creates transformative leadership experiences rooted in cultural, emotional, and social intelligence and self-efficacy development. She also serves as an adjunct professor at National Louis University and a Community Engagement Manager with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, bridging the worlds of disability awareness, education, advocacy, and leadership development.
Currently pursuing a doctorate in Strategic Educational Leadership, Nicole is committed to developing leadership programs that prioritize responsive, accessible, and relevant adult learning principles. Her work focuses on equipping minority and disabled leaders with the tools, confidence, advocacy, and mentorship necessary to excel in executive roles.
Nicole’s personal belief aligns with the words of Ella Baker, an influential grassroots organizer and civil rights leader, “I have always thought that what is needed is the development of people who are interested not in being leaders as much as in developing leadership among other people.”