TEDx Speaker · Executive & Leadership Coach · Author

Lead with the power you already have.

If you're ambitious and keep getting overlooked, you're probably missing rules nobody wrote down. Nicole Johnston learned them over 30 years running billion-dollar businesses. Now she teaches them to mid-career women ready to be recognized for the leaders they are.

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30+ years in senior corporate leadership

$1B+ businesses led.

About Nicole Johnston

A career built on speaking up.

As founder of innatePOWER®, she coaches mid-career women through the unwritten rules of advancement, working on mindset and action together through the Positive Intelligence framework. She's a TEDx speaker, the author of Taboo Topics: Things Women Should Talk About, But Don't, and host of a monthly webinar on the Three Unspoken Rules of Promotion.

The Book

Break the silence. Reclaim your voice.

Taboo Topics names the hidden pressures shaping women’s careers—from invisible labor and biased feedback to burnout and the pressure to overdeliver—and offers a candid path toward boundaries, self-trust, and promotable leadership.

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Speaking

Ideas that shift the room.

From TEDx to enterprise summits, Nicole names the unwritten rules holding people back—then gives audiences a concrete way to change them.

Change the Game

Break the outdated rules quietly holding your organization back.

Mental Fitness for Organizations

Free yourselves from self-sabotage and build sustainable success.

Why Noisy Women Make History

Stop playing nice. Start disrupting. Your career depends on it.

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Experience shaped by the world’s leading consumer brands

Free Career Guide

Build the network your next move needs.

Get Nicole’s 10-step guide to setting clear networking goals, sharpening your introduction, strengthening your online presence, and creating meaningful career opportunities.

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Coaching

Coaching from someone who's been in the room.

One-on-one coaching built on the strategies Nicole used to rise inside P&G, Hershey, and Kimberly-Clark. Build visibility, communicate with authority, and handle workplace politics with a coach who knows both the boardroom and the inner work.

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"Nicole Johnston helped me helped facilitate mindset shifts about how I need to think about managing my career, and how the “smallish” details we often overlook can actually have the biggest impact on our trajectory. This mindset shift is the essential first step to reaching the next leveling my career."

~Claudia

Upcoming Events

The Business of Women’s Sports

February 28th, 2025

Greetings from Iowa City! We are excited to announce that our plans have come together for the Summit. It’s going to be quite the weekend.

In addition to the daytime event and an evening event focused on The Business of Women’s Sports, we have a number of receptions and special events for all current and past speakers.

Take a look at the full schedule and provide your RSVP through the form located on this page:

RSVP

This page provides links to the daytime schedule and the evening’s slate of impressive speakers. If you’re looking for a hotel room, we have a block at the Hilton Garden Inn, which is our location for our Friday night reception and Sunday brunch.

You can book your tickets here:

Book Your Tickets

Hope to see you in Iowa City in a month! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Tippie College of Business

S238 Pappajohn Business Building Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Office: 319-335-2188, Mobile: 319-333-8111

tippie.uiowa.edu

Coaching

What Others Are Saying

"One of the best investments I’ve made"

What I discovered was so much more, a deeper understanding of my own strengths, innate potential, and purpose as a woman in leadership, a mother, and a whole self.

- Tara Sterba, CPA, PMP

"Her insights are spot-on"

She’s a trusted advisor and has helped me to move through situations where I felt stuck. I’d enlist her assistance at any point, but particularly when I have a tough situation where I’m hesitant to make a decision. She helps to provide clarity and confidence.

- Amy Kristof-Brown

"Truly inspiring!"

Nicole's talk on Taboo Topics was insightful, engaging, and truly empowering. She created a safe, welcoming space to explore sensitive subjects and provided clear, compassionate, and practical guidance on how to approach them.

- Jordan Colton

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of coaching programs do you offer?

We offer personalized coaching sessions focused on building confidence, refining communication, and elevating visibility- designed to help ambitious women step into leadership roles with authenticity and impact.

How can your coaching help me stand out for leadership roles?

Our coaching combines mindset shifts with practical strategies, empowering you to develop a compelling personal brand, improve your communication skills, and confidently advocate for yourself in the workplace.

What is the process to get started with innatePOWER® coaching?

You can schedule a discovery call where we discuss your career goals and challenges. From there, we create a tailored plan to support your growth and schedule ongoing coaching sessions.

How do you support women in navigating workplace dynamics?

We provide actionable tactics to manage workplace politics, master negotiation, and communicate authentically- helping you lead with confidence without feeling pushy or inauthentic.

What are the benefits of your book, Taboo Topics?

Taboo Topics names the pressures women rarely talk about at work, from invisible labor and biased feedback to burnout, and gives practical tools for boundaries, self-trust, and promotable leadership.

Can your programs fit into a busy professional’s schedule?

Yes! Our coaching is flexible and tailored to your needs, ensuring you can implement strategies without overwhelming your busy schedule.

Is this coaching suitable for women at all career levels?

It's built for mid-career women moving into leadership, and it adapts to where you are now. The goal at every stage is more visibility and a clearer path to the next role.

What makes innatePOWER® different from other leadership coaching brands?

Nicole spent 30+ years inside the kind of companies her clients work for, so coaching goes past mindset into the unwritten rules of how promotions actually get decided. Positive Intelligence mindset work, paired with tactics you can use in your next meeting.

How does inaction impact my career growth?

Not taking action can keep you invisible, limit opportunities, and cause self-doubt to grow. Our programs help you avoid these pitfalls and move confidently toward your leadership goals.

Is Taboo Topics available in digital and print formats?

Yes, Taboo Topics is available in both digital and print formats, making it accessible wherever you prefer to read and learn.

How do I continue my development after completing your programs?

We offer ongoing support options, including follow-up coaching, accountability groups, and additional resources to ensure your continued growth and success.