Nicole

One of the great things about being in this role is the connections with other business owners, which are amazing. But I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that just about in every conversation with a business owner or leader, I have to explain how AI isn’t going to replace me. Will it make me more efficient? Yes. Will it give me back hours in my day to focus on other client work? Yes. Will it completely replace me? It might, but I don’t think it will in my tenure of a career. Let me...

Every March, Women’s History Month brings the equal pay conversation back. As the HR lady, when I hear “equal pay,” my brain jumps to classifications, role clarity, and compensation. For business owners, these aren’t buzzwords. They’re the foundation of staying compliant. Let me tell you a story about what happens when that foundation cracks. • • • A small marketing company hired Maya as a graphic designer and classified her as an independent contractor. Simple enough. But Maya’s reality...

4 Things Small Business Owners Need to Know from January 2026 Last year, I wrote about my "crazy" decision to take a 21-day social media fast. The reactions ranged from supportive to skeptical: "As a business owner, you can't just disappear!" Well, this January, I did something even crazier. I extended it to the full month. Let me be clear about what "unplugging" actually looked like. I wasn't lounging on a beach somewhere ignoring my phone. January was honestly one of my busiest months in...