Put Some Respect on My Name: Leadership, Courage & Purpose

Send us Fan Mail Key Topics: Black Women • Leadership • Self-Respect • Corporate America • Career Advancement • Entrepreneurship • Purpose • Reinvention • Mentorship • Sponsorship • Personal Board of Directors • Strategic Planning • Courage • Legacy • Women Empowerment Episode Summary What happens when you stop allowing fear, titles, and other people's expectations to determine what you're capable of becoming? And what if the very thing you've been doing naturally your entire life is actually your greatest superpower? In this powerful and inspiring conversation, Dr. Ebony Stone sits down with Nicole Lewis, award-winning sales and marketing executive, entrepreneur, business strategist, and founder and CEO of Nicole Lewis and Associates, to explore what it means to know your worth, recognize your gifts, and have the courage to pursue the life you truly want. Nicole's leadership journey began more than 40 years ago, and one of her earliest experiences in corporate America would establish a standard she would carry throughout her career. It was 1985. Nicole was in her first week at Chrysler when her manager, a white male executive, referred to her as his new "little colored girl" while speaking on the telephone. Nicole didn't ignore it. She didn't laugh it off. And she didn't wait until she felt more established in her career to address it. She simply told him, "In the future, please refer to me by my name only." She had no idea what that response might mean for her career. What she did know was that she deserved respect. That confidence wasn't accidental. It was rooted in a family that taught her the importance of identity, integrity, keeping your word, and respecting people enough to call them by their names. From that moment, Nicole went on to build an extraordinary career spanning sales, marketing, business development, and executive leadership. She led teams from local markets to global organizations, negotiated major business opportunities, and discovered something important along the way. Her greatest gift wasn't closing the deal. It was helping other people become successful enough to close the deal themselves. As Nicole explains, recognizing your superpower often begins with identifying what comes naturally to you and noticing what other people consistently trust you to do. But knowing your gifts is only part of the journey. Nicole also shares the importance of building a personal board of directors—a network of mentors, coaches, and sponsors who challenge you, develop you, and advocate for you in rooms you may never enter. And then came a moment that changed everything. After the unexpected death of her aunt and godmother, a woman who had lived boldly, traveled the world, built businesses, and embraced life without hesitation, Nicole began asking herself a difficult question: Had she really done everything she wanted to do with her life? The answer led her to walk away from a successful career and launch Nicole Lewis and Associates. In this conversation, Dr. Stone and Nicole explore the difference between being successful and being fulfilled, why accomplished women sometimes struggle to imagine life beyond their professional identities, and why having a great plan means very little if you're unwilling to take action. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, considering entrepreneurship, rediscovering your strengths, or wondering what comes next after decades of success, this episode is a reminder: Your title is not your identity. Your gifts will make room for you. And you don't have to leave this life wondering what might have happened if you'd simply had the courage to try. Sometimes, you've just got to stop being scared and do the doggone thing. Who Should Listen to This Episode? This episode is for you if... You've ever found yourself in a workplace situation where someone questioned your worth, disrespected your identity, or tested how much you were willing to tolerate. You've built a successful career but are beginning to wonder whether your current path is still the one you want to follow. You've heard people talk about mentors and sponsors but aren't sure how to intentionally build relationships that support your professional growth. You're considering leaving corporate America, starting a business, or pursuing a dream you've carried for years. You're an accomplished woman in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond who knows there is still more life to live and more purpose to pursue. You're learning that success in one season of life doesn't have to look like success in the next. You want to build a legacy defined not only by what you accomplished, but also by the people you helped and the life you had the courage to live. Corner Office Lessons 💜 Know your worth before someone else decides it for you. When Nicole's manager disrespected her during her first week at Chrysler, she didn't have years of accomplishments or an executive title to protect her. What she had was a deeply rooted understanding of the respect she deserved. Sometimes advocating for yourself isn't about making a grand statement. It's about establishing a boundary and refusing to allow someone else to define your identity or your value. 💜 Your superpower is often the thing you do without even thinking about it. Nicole discovered that although she was successful in sales, her greatest strength was leadership. She could bring people together, help them recognize their abilities, navigate change, and accomplish goals they might not have believed were possible. Identifying your superpower requires paying attention to what comes naturally, what energizes you, and what others consistently trust you to do. Your greatest gift may be so familiar to you that you don't even recognize how extraordinary it is. 💜 Don't let the fear of failing become the reason you never try. Nicole had already experienced tremendous professional success when she decided to become an entrepreneur. But the death of her aunt and godmother reminded her that a successful career and a fully lived life are not necessarily the same thing. She realized that failure was a possibility regardless of which path she chose. What she wasn't willing to accept was reaching the end of her life knowing she'd never attempted something she truly wanted to do. Sometimes courage isn't believing everything will work out. It's believing you'll figure out what to do even if it doesn't. About Today's Guest Nicole Lewis is an award-winning sales and marketing executive, business strategist, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Nicole Lewis and Associates, whose work centers on helping organizations and leaders turn ideas into actionable strategies and measurable results. In 2017, inspired by the life and legacy of her aunt and godmother, Nicole made the decision to pursue entrepreneurship and founded Nicole Lewis and Associates. Nicole is also the co-creator of Navigate & Negotiate, an experience she developed with Princess Castleberry to support accomplished women who are ready to intentionally define and pursue their next chapters. Created for women ages 40 and older, Navigate & Negotiate brings together corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders for an immersive experience centered on visioning, strategic planning, community, and accountability. Rather than simply encouraging women to dream about what's next, the experience challenges them to begin developing the plans and taking the actions necessary to make those dreams a reality. Connect with Nicole Lewis: Website: www.nicolelewisandassociates.com Navigate & Negotiate: Learn more about the experience and upcoming events through Navigate & Negotiate. Upcoming Navigate & Negotiate Experience (as discussed in this episode): Sunday, October 25, 2026 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM Marygrove Conservancy, Detroit, Michiga Don't forget to like and subscribe so that you can get more content just like this! Grab your copy of The Power of the Pause today! Show you are a part of The Corner Office Collective by sporting BWCO apparel, no available. To learn more about Dr. Ebony Stone, visit www.drebonystone.com  If This Episode Inspired You... Please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another woman in leadership who needs this conversation today. Every share helps us amplify the voices and stories of remarkable Black women leaders around the world. Connect with Dr. Ebony Stone Follow The Black Woman in the Corner Office for more conversations with extraordinary Black women leaders who are changing organizations, communities, and industries. If you enjoyed what you heard, there is much more on my website (www.drebonystone.com) and you can catch more episodes here and on the Black Woman in the Corner Office YouTube channel @drebonystone. Looking to read The Power of the Pause, order your copy here - Dr. Ebony Stone - My Book Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on any of the goodness coming your way.