Nadine Nicholson, MCC
Founder | Ascend Leadership Co.
Calgary III Chapter Member
What inspired you to start your business?
I started my business 15 years ago after a heartbreaking loss of someone I loved dearly. I was at the pinnacle of my career as a corporate communications executive, leading 100+ employees, and recognized internationally for my achievements. My Dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer and only 21 days later, he was gone. It was a huge wake-up call because my own health, well-being, and closest relationships were not at the top of my priority list. After he died, I unapologetically designed my time to create fierce integrity with what mattered most. And I devoted my professional life to helping other women entrepreneurs boldly free up room for more LIFE (while climbing to never-before-seen levels of business success.) That’s when my company Ascend Leadership Co. was born.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in business?
I meet powerhouse, high-earning women founders who KNOW they need the solution my company provides: to take control of their time and get their lives back—while simultaneously elevating their revenue. My biggest challenge is when their current thinking pattern is stuck in the Time Myth: 1) the myth that they have time, that “someday” exists, and they can keep putting off what matters and 2) the myth they don’t have time and aren’t in control with how they spend their time.
My company’s ideal clients have urgency for change. They’re typically in their 40s to 60s and have a wake-up call of some sort, e.g. health scare, death of a loved one, relationship issue, milestone birthday, etc. They now realize how drained, burned out, and out of alignment they’ve become with the life they truly want—and how little time they have left. They’re looking to exit their business in the next five years and aren’t willing to sacrifice and compromise health, well-being, family, adventure, travel, and “someday” dreams another day longer.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
Stay steady and grounded. Don’t get too high in the highs and low in the lows.
In what ways has your membership in WPO impacted your personal or professional life?
I absolutely adore the women from the four WPO Calgary chapters, especially the incredible women in WPO Calgary III (shout out to my sisters!) I also love going to the annual conference and have met the most inspiring, powerful, and heartfelt women.
What are your goals or aspirations moving forward, both within WPO and in your personal/professional life?
Within WPO, my goal is to speak on stage at the WPO annual conference one day, once I get my Time Leadership book written and published by mid 2025. In my personal life, my goal is to spend as much time as possible with my husband and our son over the next two years before our son goes to college—and to hike in the Canadian Rocky Mountains more than ever before. In my professional life, my next goal is to go on a speaking tour throughout North America with my book, while integrating a wealth of epic hikes in between speaking engagements.
What lesson have you learned that you can share with other women entrepreneurs?
Through some heartbreaking losses of people I love, I have learned the lesson that TIME is precious. This is IT. You get ONE life. Don’t waste it. Take 100% responsibility for your time in this life. Be intentional and unapologetic about your choices. Create a life that’s impossible to regret. Time is the new wealth.
Ascend Leadership Co.:
Ascend Leadership Co. is a premier leadership coaching company dedicated to helping powerhouse, high-earning entrepreneurs to become more powerful, productive, and present leaders. Using their signature Time Leadership Method™, Nadine and Derek Nicholson help clients break free from the Middle Zone of time stress, guilt, and burnout—so they can take back their time, energy, and joy (while climbing to never-before-seen levels of business success). They realize their “someday” dreams NOW and make the next decade their best one yet. To learn more, visit ascendleadership.com.