Meet Monica Stockhausen of NerdyGirlsRock

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Stockhausen.

Monica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I became a Business Professor at 24, in New York City. Five years later I still can’t even believe it. I had just received my masters a year prior, and I received an opportunity to interview, I had never taught in higher education nor grade school. I had the smarts but no teaching experience. It was divine intervention I guess. I was hired on the spot, I was great at public speaking and presenting in general, but I was still surprised. I’ll never forget what the provost said; “you start Friday” (it was a Tuesday). I said to my self, “Wow I just became a Professor, then I said oh shit, I just became a Professor what am I doing?!”

Needless to say, the learning curve was REAL. My first class needed a lot of structure, but one thing the students did say about me is that I made them fall in love with learning again. I accidentally yet purposely found my first passion (because I do believe we get many) after working in that space which will now be five years and even taking on other side jobs. I realized the playing field for women and women of color just wasn’t level, access and competitiveness was a true challenge for us. I had people who assumed who I was before I could speak and treat me as if they knew me before. I couldn’t just work hard and get what I wanted ( more classes, better jobs, etc..)

I had to be strategic, I had to plan, I had to squeeze my way into places where I felt like I didn’t belong, but I sure acted like it. I had to find a way to build my skill sets, social capital, and confidence all at the same time. I was exhausted. I moved back home to California after three years in NYC and decided that I wanted to play by my own rules and teach women to do the same. I had to break out of my shyness and ask for what I wanted or build it myself. I learned how to negotiate my salary for the first time, to communicate my worth and deal with prejudice at my job.

I figured I could teach women how to do the same in their corporate and entrepreneurial endeavors. That’s how The NerdyGirl Academy was born. I created my own formula on how to make sure women remain competitive in the U.S Job Market. It’s a 3-day invigorating seminar that focuses on building women’s social capital, skill sets, and emotional strength. Best part about it is that these women go in alone but leave with professional headshots and 20 sisters who are unapologetically ambitious — the best thing I’ve ever created.

Has it been a smooth road?
You mean the bad relationships, failed ideas and being broke? Oh yeah, that. I remember sleeping on people’s couches in NYC trying to find a place to call my own. I remember no one taking a company named nerdy girl seriously, they always thought it was associated with porn ( the FRUSTRATION). I remember taking jobs that I absolutely hated that cost me my mental health, I had to go to therapy for months.

I stayed in unhealthy relationships because I was dependent, I’d say my road was anything but smooth. I don’t want to make this a sad story, I really had amazing, hard-working parents and close friends who supported me when I needed them the most. I just wanted to use everything and anything I went through to teach other women to do differently. To be independent, to ask for more and to prove her worth to herself. That’s it.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with NerdyGirlsRock LLC – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I present a fresh approach to workforce development for women, it’s called NerdyGirlsRock LLC. As I mentioned earlier, it’s an Academy only 20 women per cohort, and it’s 3-days of intensive discovery. It’s designed to professionally develop women in the collegiate and professional market.

Our academy challenges women to develop clear-cut career strategies and dares women to remain their powerful, authentic selves in their pursuit of their corporate or entrepreneurial endeavors. Through various workshops taught by renowned influencers, women dive into social-emotional development, competitive skill-set building, and career advancement techniques.

There are many women empowerment events, seminars, etc.. which are awesome. I attend these events all the time. My seminar is different, its an experience, it’s an ecosystem, it’s a lifestyle. All of our women identify as nerdy girls, it’s on their LinkedIn, they are so proud.

I am proud that the women lives are changing, many of the women who attend the academy have found the courage to leave jobs they hated, negotiate their salary and land salaried jobs they thought they were unqualified for. I am just so happy that my challenges helps other people thrive. It’s so fulfilling.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
The food options! Of course, but also the access to different landscapes. I love to snowboard, and I also love the beach, I love the ambition of downtown. LA County, in general, has it all. I’ll never move again, haha.

Pricing:

• NerdyGirl Lifestyle Package: includes 3-Day registration fee with lunch $199.99 50% Deposit Required after acceptance
• NerdyGirl Business Package: includes 3-Day registration fee with lunch, skills assessment, professional headshots, and a premium gift bag $249.99 50% Deposit Required after acceptance
• NerdyGirl Premium Package: includes 3-Day registration fee with lunch, skills assessment, premium gift bag, professional headshots and monthly career coaching for 3 months $319.99 50% Deposit Required after acceptance
• NerdyGirl Open House Business Conference- General Admission $55.00, Student $45.00, Nerdy member $35.00

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nerdygirlsrock.com
• Phone: 323-334-0190
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @NerdyGirllifestyle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NerdyGirlLifestyle/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NerdyGirlcomm/

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.