Joellen Nicholson
Founder // Managing Director
As a strategic thinker, builder, and connector, I support organizations large and small to realize and activate their social impact-sustainability visions and objectives. I thrive in collaborations that take initiatives from zero to scaled visibility.
My expertise is creating programs, partnerships, and products/services that create sustainable livelihoods and economic inclusion for thriving and healthy communities (including climate + environment). My work ensures access and network opportunities exist for women, youth, and underrepresented people to pursue their endeavors and bring their voices to the table.
With a career that has spanned corporate, nonprofit, startup executive, and global entrepreneur, I’ve led strategic business, consumer marketing, and social-sustainability programs with leading brands including the Gap, Macy’s, Estee Lauder, Disney, Target, Patagonia, SC Johnson, Kering Foundation, EcoAge, and Martha Stewart.
My foundation in the impact sector is anchored as a social entrepreneur—In 2010, I co-founded basik 855, an artisan textile impact enterprise in Cambodia employing 40 artisans paid livable wages, producing elevated products sold at Madewell and over 100 stores on three continents.
Notable work includes creating and launching Gap’s inaugural global consumer sustainable strategy, Gap for Good. My expertise extends beyond Fortune 500 companies, having consulted and advised over 100+ global SMEs on business strategies to integrate into the global apparel/home value chains—supporting these organizations had the ripple effect of increased job creation for women and their communities globally. While at the nonprofit Nest, I created their flagship strategic capacity-strengthening programs: the Artisan Accelerator and U.S. Makers’s United.
As a startup executive at UI Charitable Advisors | University Impact, a philanthropic impact advisory and next-gen training incubator, I supported the charitable donor-advised fund growth from $10M to $250M in three years. During my tenure there I spearheaded the donor philanthropic and impact advisory efforts, leading early-stage impact investment/grant funding plus activating a charitable platform that deployed $65M grants. I also managed UI’s mission delivery in social impact training of university youth in the U.S., South Africa, U.K., and India fostering partnerships with the U.S. Consulate Cape Town, Seedstars, 100 Women in Finance, the US-South Africa Higher Education Initiative, and leading university social innovation centers: Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Ballard Center for Social Impact, and the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship.
I’ve lived in 5 countries on 3 continents (includes home base USA-North America) and traveled to 37 countries and 44 U.S. States (mix of work + fun).
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Check out more of my CV on LinkedIN.