Nicole
“To me, being a woman means being true to yourself, and lifting other women up when given the opportunity.”
Nicole is an electrical engineer and craft beer connoisseur who is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others on both her Instagram and Untappd pages. On these platforms, she provides in-depth reviews, recommendations, and highlights from her brewery trips in order to educate and converse with others in the craft beer space. She has been met with many instances of adversity in her life, but this has only contributed to her independence and drive to succeed. Beyond her academic pursuits as she approaches receiving her Master’s degree, she is also helping to create visibility and room for women in the male-dominated brewery scene. Meet Nicole. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
N: Hi! My name is Nicole. I am 26 years old, and I work as an Electrical Engineer in the cellular industry in New Jersey.
K: Describe yourself in your own words
N: I like to think of myself as a very independent person, ever since I was a child. My education is very important to me, as well as my career. I'm nearly finished with my Masters in Electrical Engineering, which I've been working on part-time for the past 4 years. I'm also a huge animal lover, especially of cats. I've recently become involved in the craft beer scene as well; enjoying craft beer has become a passion of mine. Finally, lifting weights is another passion of mine, which I plan to get back to after I recover from my recent shoulder surgery.
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
N: My favorite thing about myself is my resilience. I've been through a decent amount of hardships in my lifetime, which to some extent contribute to the person that I am today.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that has defined you or made you stronger?
N: I've become all too familiar dealing with grief throughout my life. I lost my mom to cancer when I was 13 years old, and my dad recently passed away unexpectedly...I think a lot of my desire to be independent comes from losing my mom at such a young age. I like to thing these experiences make me stronger, even if it doesn't always feel that way.
K: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
N: Do what feels right to you, and don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
N: To me, being a woman means being true to yourself, and lifting other women up when given the opportunity.
K: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to them if they were here now?
N: Definitely my mom. I strive to be even half the woman she was. She had this way about her that made it impossible not to love her. She was a successful loan officer soon to be president of a mortgage company, and everyone who worked with her, whether they were a client or a coworker, had nothing but nice things to say about her. I would tell her that I love and miss her, and that I hope she's proud of the woman I am becoming.