Nicole Jenkins, MS

I am a CU Boulder alum (BA Political Science ’93 & MS Organizational Leadership ‘19) and currently work for CU Boulder as Associate Director of Organizational Effectiveness for the Office of Contracts and Grants. In my role, I wear many hats to drive excellence in strategic initiatives, change management, and organizational development.

As a lifelong student of leadership and a career in communication, I developed and continue to advance a comprehensive communication and training program addressing leadership development, team effectiveness, employee engagement and creating a high trust office culture. It was an honor and great source of pride to work with Dr. Bracken and a great team in the initial creation of the Leadership Studies Minor for CU undergraduates.

I consider myself a thought partner that thrives in navigating the mountains and valleys of leadership with others. Being a thought partner is this fabulous space where creativity and order, agreement and disagreement, clarity and confusion can thrive.

My advice to students...

Our greatest impact often comes through the small moments and choices that cumulatively add up to a life shared with others.

Questions are the lifeblood of curiosity. Getting good at asking questions - the right questions at the right time – can enhance listening and understanding. Curiosity through questions of inquiry can break down barriers, open windows into other perspectives and make stronger connections.

Curiosity and listening go hand-in-hand. The greatest listening is curiosity without judgement. It is about listening deeply to others not to judge them, but to understand and appreciate their story, their journey, their thinking, their contributions to the world around us.