Nicole Herrera

Future of Leadership
Leadership is constantly changing. I think leadership will be more about empowering people outside of your business to help others grow and succeed in their own. Leadership will be investing in employees’ futures to keep staff on board to help the company succeed and grow.
Leadership will mean having a life and work balance. Leadership will be more about the people who work for the company rather than the top execs. Leadership will be about showing more appreciation and guiding folks to their dreams.
Leadership will be training other leaders to run their own companies and to serve the community. Leadership will be more about the people and the success of others rather than the time clock.

Leadership Lessons
You can’t do it all. Take time to unwind. Enjoy that walk, reject the phone call, take off a week and continue to achieve that work-life balance. Burnout is real and it not only can affect your personal life but your business as well.
This has been the most difficult for me to learn. I take such pride in my work but by never taking time for myself, I realized I was missing out on more than a new promotion. I missed a lot of firsts in my children’s lives. Now that I work for myself, I can choose what I want to be a part of.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders
Expect to make sacrifices. Your circle has a really big impact on who you are as a business owner and leader. Surround yourself with people that clap for you in your success rather than tear you down. Pick your team wisely.
Find someone that you can follow. You should always be evolving, learning and growing every day. My business partner, Marilee, helps me in the troubled times and celebrates with me in the good. There are not enough words to express how grateful I am.