BBW MEMBER INTERVIEW: Nicole Kalil – Founder and Chief Woman Whisperer

Nicole Kalil - Founder and Chief Woman Whisperer

Less than a year.

@nicolemkalil

https://www.linkedin.com/company/34955356

I was born, raised, and lived in California until 3 years ago when we moved to Winchester, MA. My husband was offered an amazing career opportunity, and since I work from home when I'm not onsite with an organization or traveling to speak, I can do my work from anywhere. I absolutely love it here, and have zero regrets... even when it snows in April!

I'm the owner of Woman's Work, where our mission is to create professional environments where women will thrive. I often say we advocate for women, but not at the expense of men, because I believe that when women rise, everyone rises. I do keynotes, onsite training, and a lot more virtual training as of late, working with leadership teams that want to strategically change their culture and office environments to be more inclusive and productive for women. In addition, I host a podcast called ``This Is Woman's Work`` where we're redefining what it actually means to be doing ``woman's work`` today. I specialize in working in male-dominated industries, as I have a background in Finance where I was an executive at a Fortune 100 firm... I was actually the first woman in company history (and this company has a long history) to hold my particular leadership position.

Some pretty consistent feedback I get as an individual is that I'm a great listener, loyal, authentic, a truth teller and a deep and forward thinker.

``Be Yourself. Everyone else is already taken.`` (Quote by Oscar Wilde... I'm obsessed with good quotes)

This is an impossible question to answer, for me. Reading is one of my most favorite things to do, so I wouldn't even know where to start... I have a commitment to read 60 books this year, so one of my favorites of 2020 (so far) has been ``Untamed`` by Glennon Doyle. ``Just Mercy`` by Bryan Stevenson was probably the most impactful book I've read in 2020.

I have developed a Recovery Plan tool, a custom template that folks can keep within reach to help propel them back into action when the going gets tough. This tool is accessible on my website here: https://nicolekalil.com/podcast/019

Given all the unexpected challenges with COVID-19, I'd say my biggest win recently was choosing to pivot quickly from onsight events and keynotes to virtual workshops and online trainings. Being able to increase impact and maintain profitability as a business owner during all this, has been exciting.

That confidence is built from the inside out, and won't come externally. I'd tell myself to stop chasing validation, achievements, compliments, attention, and proving myself to others because all that ever did was give me momentary feelings of confidence, but the feeling doesn't last. I would tell myself to focus on accepting, honoring, and choosing mySELF.

Spending time with my family, reading, traveling, eating cheese and drinking wine

I'm first generation American. My father is from Mexico, my mother from Germany (and I have a brother from Ghana), but most people assume I'm white when they see me. I feel lucky that I've been given the opportunity to witness and experience the American Dream through my family, and I'm also very mindful of my privilege. It's important to me that I listen to BIPOC voices and that I also speak as an anti-racist.