To Lead Well, You Must Love Well
In this talk, I redefine leadership by emphasizing the importance of empathy, connection, and humanity. Drawing from personal stories, corporate experiences, and research, she shows how effective leaders inspire through care, create spaces of psychological safety, and prioritize the well-being of their teams. From navigating the chaos of 2020 at Twitter to transformative mentorship, Nikkia illustrates how “loving well” enables leaders to overcome crises, foster resilience, and drive innovation.
Backed by insights from thought leaders like Adam Grant and Amy Edmondson, the talk demonstrates how people-centered leadership enhances engagement, productivity, and organizational success. By sharing examples like Satya Nadella's transformation of Microsoft, I highlight how thriving teams are built on trust, authenticity, and a commitment to leaving people better than you found them. To lead well, you must love well—and this keynote offers a powerful guide to making that principle a reality.
The Whole Brained Insights Leader
You could be the most talented researcher—a wizard at integrating data from different sources—yet consistently fail to convince key decision-makers to follow your recommendations. With the continued advancement in technologies that are faster at analyzing data than we are, insights professionals everywhere are feeling severe pressure to show their indispensable value. Time will not slow down for us to get this right.
As a seasoned insights leader and former professional modern dancer, I bring a unique perspective to the art and science of delivering insights for maximum decision-making impact. My journey from connecting with audiences through movement as a professional dancer to inspiring decision-makers to follow my recommendations by leveraging creative and persuasive data- and insights-backed stories taught me the immense value of infusing left-brain analytics with the right-brain imaginative and creative storytelling.
Research: The Heart & Soul of Innovation
What’s the key to true innovation? While a visionary founder, brilliant minds, and great ideas are essential, the real breakthroughs happen when you deeply understand your customers’ needs. The joy that comes from creating something that truly makes a difference in people’s lives is unmatched. By keeping these fundamental human truths at the heart of your strategies—whether in product development, design, branding, or marketing—you can make your offerings stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
In this talk, I delve into how you can unlock the power of research to drive innovation. I share methods and resources for gathering indispensable market and consumer insights to propel all your efforts. Unlocking consumer insights isn't just for big businesses; it's a journey anyone can embark on with curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to listen.
From Story Telling to Story Selling
Even the most talented researchers—those who can seamlessly integrate data from diverse sources—often struggle to convince key decision-makers to act on their recommendations. As technology advances, delivering insights that stand out and demonstrate indispensable value is more critical than ever. The clock isn't slowing down, and the pressure is intensifying.
In this interview, on the DIG In podcast, I share my unique approach to delivering insights that drive action. Drawing from my experience connecting with audiences through movement and inspiring decision-makers with persuasive, data-driven stories, I demonstrate the power of blending left-brain analytics with right-brain creativity.
From Insights to Breakthroughs: Unleashing Innovation through Customer Insights
In this talk delivered at HKTDC MarketingPulse & eTailingPulse 2025 put on by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Hong Kong, I dive deep into The Love Equation, my framework for turning data into breakthroughs that your customers fall in love with. It’s about being intensely curious about their lives, listening closely to their needs, observing the unexpressed, developing solutions that may feel somewhat small to you but breakthrough to them, and communicating insights in ways that touch hearts and minds so that they spark real action. When we can connect on that level, magic happens.
And here's the secret...The Love Equation doesn’t just work externally to build customer loyalty and innovation. It’s equally powerful internally. Whether you're influencing stakeholders, gaining buy-in, or leading teams, applying the same principles of deep understanding, connection, and thoughtful communication helps amplify your impact.
Ready to connect?
Whether you’re looking to collaborate, book a speaking engagement, or just start a conversation, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s create something impactful together—reach out today!
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