Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicki Bond.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a full-time entrepreneur.
When I think about my journey and process to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, it hasn’t been a straight and direct path. I spent my 20s trying to figure out my purpose and what I was passionate about. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism (advertising and integrated marketing communication), yet I had no idea what I wanted to do with that degree.
In 2016, a month before my 31st birthday, I was hired as a Training Facilitator for a state-government agency in the Office of Learning and Professional Development. I loved educating, developing, traveling, and equipping the participants to be effective in their roles. I had finally found something that I loved and was good at.
In 2019, I pursued an opportunity to work in higher education as a Corporate Trainer in Learning and Organizational Development in HR. It was challenging initially, but I was determined to carve out my space in the corporate environment. This was a semi-dream career for me. In December 202o, I graduated with my Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Management from Capella University.
This is where life gets really interesting for me. I loved my career as a Corporate Trainer, but I knew there was just something greater God was calling me towards. I began to dream of starting my own business, specifically a learning and organizational development firm. I knew that this wouldn’t be an easy task. At this point, I had only been a trainer for four years and had just obtained my first Master’s Degree. I knew I would have to increase my credibility to be taken seriously and obtain the corporate-level clients I was looking for.
In January 2021, I became a law student at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. I launched Life Strategist Consulting Group LLC in the middle of COVID-19, March 2021, to be exact. I started just by doing one-on-one business coaching with individual clients. It wasn’t until November 2021 then I obtained my first contract with the federal government. This ultimately transitioned me to running my business full-time and into full-time entrepreneurship. I give God all the glory for it!
In May of 2022, I graduated with my Master of Law/Legal Studies in International Business Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. I have embraced my gift of public speaking and have had amazing opportunities to be a keynote speaker, panelist, podcast guest, conference presenter, and more. One of the most memorable thus far has been for the University of Ghana- Acura Campus Virtual Youth Conference in May of 2020. I spoke to over 300+ Young Adults from all over the world on Millenial Leadership!
Lastly, I have always had a passion for higher education. I believe that education should be a right and not a privilege and that everyone should have access to a good education. Representation matters in higher education. Diversity among faculty is essential, so becoming an Adjunct Professor has been a personal dream. It’s my way of giving back. I have been an Adjunct Professor since 2021.
In sharing my story, I pray that my journey will inspire someone. I am a first-generation college student and a first-generation entrepreneur. I think societal norms make us feel we should have every answer and know every detail about our life, from career, marriage, children, etc. Sometimes you won’t have all the answers, but if you have the faith to take risks and the resilience to bounce back after a failure or setback, you are on a good path that will eventually lead you to success.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would tell the biggest lie if I said it had been a smooth road. There have been a few struggles along the way. The work itself in running my business has been relatively easy. I love all of the organizations and companies that I get to work with. Even though my schedule can get quite hectic, but yet by the grace of God, I am still able to manage the workload.
My biggest struggle has been myself. Imposter Syndrome is very real, and I often fight it consistently. Not to mention, I am a perfectionist, so this combination can sometimes be deadly for me. Therefore, I constantly struggle to believe in myself and be confident to complete a project and be a great resource to my clients.
I can be extremely critical of myself. I often have to ensure that I give myself grace and space to make mistakes and use them as learning lessons. I consistently fight against the fear of failure. I am glad that my faith in God is greater than my fears. Scriptures, positive affirmations, and prayer are how I face these struggles.
I have learned to turn my struggles into stepping stones. These stepping stones, in turn, create my road to success.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Life Strategist Consulting Group LLC?
I am the Owner and CEO of Life Strategist Consulting Group LLC, a full-service learning and organizational development firm. I work with local, state, and federal companies and organizations around the United States. I help companies and organizations identify their internal problems and needs and provide strategic solutions to address, correct, or mitigate them. These solutions consist of consulting, training, and coaching. These solutions help organizations shift from daily survival to long-term, sustainable, thriving organizations. These are environments where employees love coming to work and organizations achieve their bottom line. God has blessed me to work with numerous companies and organizations providing consulting, learning, and organizational services. It has been an absolute dream come true.
I started my consulting and training business to be the solution for companies and organizations that have problems and are unsure on how to solve them.
I’m intentional about creating training and learning environments that are engaging. Learning is a luxury, and I strive to provide a luxury learning experience, one training at a time.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a very shy and introverted kid. I am a middle child, but yet an only child, lol. My siblings and I are pretty spread out in age. There was a period when I was the only child in the house, so I played by myself a lot. I was an absolute daddy’s girl. I was pretty much his shadow. Everywhere he went, I was there. He taught me so much as a little girl. He genuinely is my hero. He taught me to plant flowers and drive a boat. My mommy taught me how to cook. She is also why I like nice things. I blame her for my expensive taste, lol. She was so stylish growing up. I would often sneak and wear her clothes and shoes to school.
I loved to learn, and I loved school. I had a few friends, but sometimes I struggled at school. I desired a sense of belonging amongst my class peers. It resulted in me trying to fit in more than anything—the reason why was that I was the only African American student in a Caucasian neighborhood and school. I, unfortunately, experienced several acts of racism. It was challenging, but thankfully I had a few good friends and teachers who were very accepting of me.
I was a cheerleader, short-lived basketball player, and track and field runner. I enjoyed acting/drama and gymnastics.
I was also involved in show choir, which I loved. I loved the beautiful dresses, makeup, and competitions. I loved to sing! I enjoyed reading as well.
Lastly, I was born and raised in the church. Today, my faith and relationship with God is the most important thing in my life. I spent a lot of time at church growing up. I thank my family for a firm foundation rooted in Jesus Christ. I don’t know where I could be today without Him.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lifestrategistconsultingllc.com
Image Credits
Photographer-Shawn Saffold, DWS Photos LLC
