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Nicole Breland
Aandahl

Writer; Director of Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs | Self; Center for Strategic and International Affairs

Fairfax, Virginia

Nicole Breland
Aandahl

Writer; Director of Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs | Self; Center for Strategic and International Affairs

Fairfax, Virginia

nicole@healthynailproject.com


If you could start all over, what would you do differently?

I would definitely save more money. I spent way too much on trendy items and that money could have been saved or invested.

Tell us about a time you took a risk at work.

I have never been a shrinking violet, but usually managed to handle micro-aggressions diplomatically. However, one day I reacted without hesitation - I was (yet again) the only woman AND the only person of color in a large meeting where I was serving in a compliance role and a colleague raised his voice and cussed at me - and I reacted in kind. I had zero regrets - but I just knew I was going to be fired. I was promoted.

What is a rule you try to live by?

I give at least one stranger a compliment every day.

What advice would you like to share with the next generation?

That it is never too late to start something new. I pursued a law career, then a foreign policy career, then a corporate governance career, then operations, the back to law. Now I do law part time, visual merchandising part time, and started a nail care company. You can always learn and grow!

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

That I spent a semester of law school in Ukraine where I picked up my favorite hobby - decorating Easter eggs (pysanky!)


University/College Attended

Howard University; University of Pittsburgh; George Washington University


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