Michelle A. Nicholas

Michelle is an impassioned advocate for women and children who has dedicated her career to helping others. Michelle exemplifies her maxim, “You can grow as a professional while giving much to community service.”

As the Executive Director of Girls Inc. Westchester, Michelle empowers girls by inspiring them to be strong, smart, and bold. Girls Inc. teaches healthy living so girls can make informed decisions, resist peer pressure, avoid risky behaviors, and take charge of their health. The organization, which pursues direct service and advocacy efforts, offers school and community-based enrichment programs for hundreds of girls in Westchester County, NY.

Michelle is also the CEO of The NICO Consulting Inc., a boutique consulting firm that helps balance corporate imperatives with programs and products to advance the public good with maximum efficiency. Since founding the firm in 2018, Michelle has built an impressive network of satisfied clients that includes nonprofits, small firms, and large corporations.

A native of Guyana, Michelle is the founder of Sexual Assault and Family Education (SAFE) Guyana, an organization focused on providing services and resources to help victims of domestic and sexual violence, and individuals struggling with mental health issues. She co-created the 25 Influential Women Leaders Award, which recognizes women leaders who have made an impact in their companies and communities in Guyana.

Michelle has used her experience in the corporate and non-profit sectors to secure funding for programs to benefit those who need it most while ensuring that those who support these programs remain engaged and enthused. Her work has been recognized with several awards that honor her understanding of the social challenges facing underserved and underrepresented communities locally and internationally.