Jess Nicol - Co-Founder & CEO, Nicol

What if sport could do more than build fitness and competition, and actually help solve loneliness? In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Jess Jess Nicol, Co-Founder & CEO of Nicol, to explore how racquet sports can create stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.   Jess shares how Nicol grew from a junior squash program into a growing network of multi-racquet clubs built around belonging, play, and community. She talks about building through COVID, the importance of having the right partner, and why creating spaces where people of all ages feel welcome has always been central to the vision.   They also discuss the rise of pickleball and padel, what true inclusivity in sport looks like, and why adults need more opportunities to simply play. Jess explains Nicol’s player journey from first-time participation to competition, as well as the systems and strategy behind scaling the business into new markets.   At its heart, this is a conversation about what sport can create beyond the court: connection, purpose, belonging, and stronger communities in an increasingly isolated world.