We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Grimes, PhD. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.
Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
As an immigrant to the U.S. coming from a family of big hearted blue collar aunties and uncles of but limited means, I have always felt I had no choice but to work exceedingly hard. Once I moved to the U.S. at age 15, and for the first time could see massive possibilities before me, some – things I never had even conjured, it was easy to lean into this space of > you reap what you sow; God helps those who helps themselves! I knew I had the opportunity to create a rich new life in America, and all I needed was my brain and gusto!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a former NYC high school Science teacher, Principal and university adjunct Assistant Professor. I’m also a proud immigrant born and raised on the island of Trinidad till I was 15. I moved to the U.S. as a teenager. My typical strict immigrant parents felt that formal education (i.e. becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer etc.) was the lone pathway to success and so, I followed suit, being the first to graduate from college in my family with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering – and eventually earn two MA’s and a PhD in urban education. In 2018, I left the 9-5 grind leading a high school after almost 20 years due to educator burnout. I needed a break! Whilst on a work pause trying to “life reset,” I realized I had many colleagues pursuing passion projects. Similarly, my company Carib Biz Network first started in 2019 as a passion project on social media to promote my friends’ businesses. I soon realized that my education, tech/design skills and overall professional network could be put to good use and I could formalize it all into a revenue-generating business. Today, the company is a business development platform designed to support micro, small and medium business owners and dedicated to fostering economic opportunity and strengthening small Caribbean businesses in North America and beyond. We serve a diverse group of businesses providing tools and opportunities to help small businesses reach their full potential. I feel incredibly passionate about this work each day. There is tremendous potential to grow and educate folks who desire a life where they can be leaders, share a talent, demonstrate cultural pride and create generational wealth. An idea, grit and grind wholly define me as an individual and are the core foundation of what I do. Alongside this, I am also the Director of Marketing for an education company. Running a business AND working full time was never a primary goal, but opportunities aligned in a way that I couldn’t refuse. And so, my life is a beautiful juggling act filled with so many people, places, experiences and learnings!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I know definitively what’s led me here is 1) making a firm commitment to always learning 2) trying new things without fear of failure or embarrassment and 3) not being afraid to reach out and ask for support (financial, emotional, physical etc.) along the way. If you are early on in your journey (whatever that looks like), the key is to remember that you’ll make mistakes, everything won’t be perfect, but in your quest to that next goal post, don’t forget to enjoy all the the little moments along the way.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
This year, I am eager to develop more impactful partnerships with corporate brands in order to amplify the work I am trying to do for the Caribbean small business community in North America. Many U.S. brands are back-peddling on their DEI promises made in 2020 and I deeply worry about those who will be adversely affected by the loss of strategic programming. We already know that 99% of all venture funding goes to White male Founders and their remains a need for critical support for women and under-represented founders everywhere. And so, my eyes are set on brands who understand this landscape and feel it is indeed mission critical to continue to support entities who are doing the work on the ground.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drnicolegrimes.com
- Instagram: @iamnicolegrimes
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolekgrimes/
Image Credits
Diana Kahrim Lawrence Miner
