Hi there.
I’m Nicole Lenzen, a coach, facilitator, consultant, and mother.
I support women in navigating working parenthood, leadership, entrepreneurship, and mid-career transitions in their own ways, with nourishment and strength rather than fatigue and breakdown.
When we step into–instead of give away–our power, we show up fully and contagiously.
My Story
I began my career in computer science—one of a handful of women pursuing that degree at the time—and was quickly made to feel small by the egos in Silicon Valley. After switching gears and becoming a custom couture fashion designer, I was wooed by a potential investor whose intentions turned out to be toward me rather than my company. These and many other failed attempts to find my place in a world not designed for me were exhausting, but I kept pushing along.
These and many other failed attempts to find my place in a world not designed for me were exhausting,
but I kept pushing along.
In my late 30s, I was flying around the world leading intense innovation projects for a prestigious consulting firm, often enduring toxic environments. Seemingly out of nowhere, my vision became blurry, the clearly-formed sentences in my brain started coming out as an incomprehensible jumble, and I barely had the energy to walk. A decade-and-a-half of chronic stress from trying to fit my square peg into the round hole of society had caught up with me, and my body broke down.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes–a forever auto-immune disease–as an adult. Staying alive now required constant monitoring, insulin delivery, and insane diligence. The diagnosis thrust me into a deep depression and identity crisis.
Getting this disease also sparked a crucial transformation.
Today, I’m a solo mom by design, raising a curious young adventurer who is the love of my life. My sense of self has expanded far beyond societal limitations. My constant seeking has been replaced by embracing parenthood and career as I define and live them.
I partner with organizations committed to cultivating cultures of growth, connection, and positive impact, even when the road there has yet to be created.
I coach women to expand into truer versions of themselves and confidently navigate their own paths. I help working parents own their integrated identities, with increased confidence, self-advocacy, continued advancement, and self-care.
We discover deep self-trust, we write our own rules, we attune to our hearts and bodies, and we thrive in living our values.
When we stop trying to be everything for everyone, we find ease in being our true selves.
Solo Mom by Design
of a joyful and inquisitive 2-year-old daughter
20+ Years Empowering Girls, Women, & Moms
through coaching, inclusive leadership, creating custom womenswear, as a founding member of the Society of Working Moms, mentoring professionals on ADPList and underserved students through Girls Who Code and Built by Girls, and advising on Unconform's women-centric design framework.
Significant Leadership & Consulting Experience
with Fortune 500 companies, startups, and nonprofits in innovation, technology, fashion, and social impact
Certified Coach
International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC), New Ventures West Certified Integral Coach, and Center for Parental Leave Leadership (CPLL) Certified RETAIN Parental Leave Coach
Human-Centered Design
20+ years of practicing design thinking and applying a human-centered approach to problem-solving
Seasoned Entrepreneur
comfortable navigating the unknown, with heaps of learnings to share
Community Builder
Passionate and action-oriented people-connecter and community builder
First-hand Experience
with stress-induced chronic illness and techniques to regulate your nervous system including breathwork, meditation, and somatic awareness
My Nourishment
In addition to guiding women to their full potential, I enjoy being silly with my daughter, urban exploring by 🚴♀️ bike, learning every day, sharing yummy meals with loved ones, conversing in (long-ago acquired but rapidly declining) French, carving backcountry tree runs on my 🏂 snowboard and remote ⛺ camping and hiking. [Check out my Google Maps Local Guide profile for travel recommendations]. Previously, I performed as a solo jazz + swing dancer, and played 🎹 keyboards + sang in the psychedelic rock/shoegaze band Sidewalk TV.
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Schedule a free 30-minute 1:1 consultation to share what brings you here and experience what working together could look like
When we realize we don’t owe anyone anything, we redirect our energy toward what really matters.
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