Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Blackwell.
Hi Nicole, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve spent more than 20 years working in education, communications, media, mentoring, and leadership, but my journey really began long before any fancy titles and positions. I’ve always been passionate about people — how they grow, how they learn, and how the right support can change the trajectory of someone’s life. Early in my career, I quickly learned that success was never just about statistics, policies, or processes, but about relationships, equity, and creating environments where people feel seen, supported, and capable.
I consider myself a multi-hyphenate professional because my interests and work extend across various industries and focus areas, including leadership development, emotional wellness, education, public speaking, etc. But at the core of every role I take on, and every hat that I wear, is one consistent theme: I am a storyteller. My goal is to help others tell the stories they want their lives, work, and purpose to reflect.
I have always been a mentor, an advocate, and a self-proclaimed women’s empowerment enthusiast. My mission has been shaped by my experiences supporting and uplifting others, helping them navigate change, and witnessing how confidence, resources, and the right support system can completely reshape someone’s self-belief. When I delivered my TEDx Talk in 2023, this sentiment was at the heart of my message on breakthrough and the importance of emotional wellness. My hope was to encourage audiences (both in the room and those who would watch later on YouTube) to step boldly into the things that scare them — to feel the fear and do it anyway. That philosophy is something I try to live by and share with every person that I meet.
One of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been founding Mina’s Girls Mentoring, named in honor of my late grandmother, who devoted her life to reminding women to love themselves and believe that they were worthy of being loved in return. Her spirit is at the heart of everything we do, from our Empowered by M.I.N.A. initiatives and Destination Womanhood workshops. We are building programming that acknowledges womanhood as a lifelong journey — not a point of arrival or ultimate level of success that society has relentlessly encouraged women to pursue. We celebrate the growing, the learning, the unlearning, the questioning, the healing, the trying again… the becoming. We support women and girls through mentorship, skill-building, storytelling confidence, and community; it’s not just in moments, but in ways that continue across seasons of life.
Today, I continue to build workshops, development models, and mentoring support programs that equip women and girls to walk confidently in their identities, feel supported in their journeys, and write the story of their lives that feels the most authentic to them. When we invest in the empowerment of women, we can influence real change for entire families, communities, industries, and future generations to come.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My biggest obstacle was learning not to shrink to fit environments that couldn’t hold the magnitude of my purpose. At times, it’s been a challenge to embrace the fullness of who I am as a woman with diverse perspectives and interests. As a multi-hyphenate professional, people often wanted me to “pick a lane;” we live in a world that often wants people — especially women — to simplify themselves. I had to learn that my ability to lead, mentor, build systems, create content, speak, serve communities, and develop leaders didn’t make me “too much.” I’ve come to understand that my strength comes from bringing all of my gifts together.
It has taken time, trial (and error), and a lot of growth, but I’ve learned the value of investing in myself and others. When we invest in people — their voices, their agency, their ideas, their development — everything else becomes possible. That is the thread that connects every chapter of my story.
The world needs more women who stop apologizing for being complex, passionate, and multi-dimensional.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets me apart is my people-driven approach to life and work; I wholeheartedly believe that you should strive to leave every place (and every person) better than you found them. My great-grandmother often says, “When you leave a place, someone ought to know you’ve been there.”
I do not believe in transactional development. A single workshop or motivational message alone is not enough; people need ongoing support, skill-building, coaching, access, and community over time. My work is rooted in relational equity and emotional wellness. I aim to foster environments where people are equipped with the tools and confidence needed to push forward.
Success for me isn’t measured in titles and accolades, but in watching people shift their internal narratives and start telling a different story to themselves and others — a story they believe in and resonates with who they are, regardless of who they’ve been. Every workshop, every mentoring session, every “aha” moment of clarity and “I never thought I could do this” is what keeps me going. Those breakthroughs are what transform learning into impact.
Today, I balance organizational leadership with developing mentoring models, leadership workshops, strategic communications initiatives, community programming, and professional development solutions that help support efficiency and advocate for people-centered communities.
I’m most proud of creating spaces where people feel safe enough to try, strong enough to grow, and supported enough to become the best version of themselves — a space where women and girls feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that often surprises people is that although I’m known for women’s empowerment and helping others use their voices, learning to use my own has been one of my greatest personal challenges. My TED Talk — which focused on breakthroughs, emotional wellness, and the fear of not being heard — was deeply personal. I was standing on a stage encouraging others to “feel the fear and do it anyway,” while actively battling my own fear in real time. It was emotionally triggering, incredibly vulnerable, and one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was also proof that growth doesn’t require perfection — it just takes a little courage.
Another thing people don’t always realize is that I didn’t set out to build a brand, a platform, or a movement. I simply started by building connections, and offering the encouragement I wish I had more of when I needed it most. Mina’s Girls Mentoring wasn’t created from business strategy — it was built from personal necessity. I built what I needed: a community where women and girls could be supported, seen, and strengthened long after the world stops cheering for them.
And even though I can lead a room, guide workshops, and speak on stages, I thrive in quiet reflection, and I think that’s part of my superpower. It allows me to observe deeply, listen with intention, and lead with empathy. That combination of fear, courage, introversion, and purpose is what fuels everything I do today.
Contact Info:
- Website: Website: minasgirlsmentoring.org
- Instagram: Instagram: @minasgirlsmentoring and @iamnicoleblackwell
- Facebook: Facebook: Mina’s Girls Mentoring
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/iamnicoleblackwell
- Twitter: X: @minasgirls_
- Youtube: YouTube: @iamnicoleblackwell
- Other: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/minasgirlsmentoring
Image Credits
Dallas Photo Lab, Nanzvision
