01.
Introduce yourself (include your name, your business/what your do for living)
Hi, my name is Nikki Rick’s. My business is Gab Lab. I help creative women entrepreneurs by giving them resources and tools through speaking events, retreats, e-courses, and working with them one-on-one. I love empowering women and helping their businesses grow.
02.
Tell us about your education background.
My undergrad is from Brigham Young University I got a degree in communications and sociology. So probably the most generic fields you could get a degree in. And then, later on, I went to the University of Illinois at Chicago and got a master’s degree in urban planning and policy. Neither of which have anything to do with what I’m doing now. but even just today I was able to help my sister figure out what to do about buying a home that’s on the national register because my dissertation was on historic homes in Wicker Park. so there you go, 80k wrapped up in 30 seconds of advice.
03.
How did you start your business?
I started a business called Collide Coworking where I hosted coworking and childcare events and I learned that I was really interested in working with women and learning about their businesses and wanting to help them grow, watch them succeed and see them empowered.
04.
What inspired you as a creative woman?
My creativity isn’t so direct to the arts but I definitely love to dabble in lots of different types of crafting and art. Where I find my creativity lies is taking elements, a challenge, or a goal and figuring out all of the pieces to make it actionable and to make it happen. That’s really where my heart sings.
05.
What was your first job ever? Any funny or memorable story?
First job ever? I’ve had lots of insane jobs but my very very first job was shredding paper at my dad’s office. Real boring. I think one of the more interesting and quirky jobs that I’ve had was grading asparagus at a production factory in my hometown in Sunnyside, Washington. I worked in a little shack and the farmers would bring their asparagus in and I would get a sampling of it and then depending on different factors (length, width, weight) I would give it a grade (A, B, C) which would then determine how much the farmer got paid for all of the asparagus brought in. At the time I didn’t really understand how impactful my job was but now I think I probably would have been a lot more generous with the farmers. But it was probably a good thing I didn’t know what I was doing because I was really unbiased.
06.
If you can build a million dollar company, what would it be?
I’m working on that right now actually. I’m in the process of starting a women-focused international accelerator.
07.
Walk us through your day
I wake up at 5:30 a.m. go for a 5-mile run after which I do yoga and then I sit and have some avocado toast and kombucha and read the newspaper while watching my children play silently on the rug. Just kidding every day is really different I really love sleep so for the most part I sleep in until about 8, I lay in bed and read through the NYT daily briefing, check my email, scroll real quick through insta, and then publish my scheduled post. Then I’m probably going to a meeting with a client after that I do what needs to be done in my day-to-day work which is planning my next #gabLABS event or working on an e-course or having a phone call with a potential client. Then I get home, put my younger one down for a nap, play with my older one and then try to get some more work in. Then it’s dinner, bath, books, and bed. And then back to work again. Somedays there will be a park run or Costco. My daughters’ favorite place to go is Costco – I don’t blame her.
08.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
I love working with women and I love seeing how from one month to the next something that seems like totally unrealistic goal the next month seems like it’s a fact of life there’s such a power in that and it never gets old I love watching women empower themselves.
09.
Where or what do you think you will be/do in the next 5 years?
My family and I are planning on moving to Australia soon and from there I would love to build-out that International women focus accelerator. I also am planning on someday producing a movie with my husband so we’ll see about that haha.
10.
Share a quote/advice that you’d like to tell the 25-year-old you.
I think everyone tells their past self this but relax it’s going to be okay you’re going to find what resonates with you eventually and just roll with the punches. Also, you’re hot – stop thinking about your weight, it’s a waste of time.