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From Runways to Revolution, A Life Shaped by Legacy, Design, and Social Impact: Meet Nicole McKinney, Founder and President at WAKING THE unCONSCIOUS
As we bring Women’s History Month to a close, we have recognized leaders whose work continues to shape the future across industries and communities. Nicole McKinney stood out for her ability to bridge creativity, strategy, and systems transformation, designing spaces where people, culture, and opportunity intersect in meaningful ways.
Tell us about your personal journey.
My life’s work is rooted in a legacy of resilience, justice, and cultural transformation that spans generations. On one side of my family is my great-great-great-grandpaternal grandmother, a documented freed slave in 1865. On the other is my maternal grandmother, a Holocaust survivor who lost all thirteen of her siblings. Their stories of survival, dignity, and strength shaped my identity long before I understood the power of legacy.
I was born in New York City and raised in a small university town in Ontario, Canada, where my parents built their academic careers. From an early age, I was drawn to creativity and aesthetics. Fashion became my first language of expression—a way to explore identity, culture, and storytelling. That passion led me back to New York, where I studied art history and fashion and began my career in the garment district, learning discipline, innovation, and the art of bringing ideas to life.
I later returned to Canada to launch the Boys’ Division for Ralph Lauren, gaining insight into how design, business, and culture intersect. I went on to found BCAD Group Inc., a boutique digital communications agency led by diverse women, where we elevated brands and voices across North America through strategy, creativity, and representation.
A defining turning point came a decade ago with the loss of my father. His work in antiracism research and legal advocacy became the catalyst for my own transformation. I felt called to carry his legacy forward, expanding my creative foundation into purpose-driven work.
That calling became WAKING THE unCONSCIOUS, a nonprofit focused on culture transformation and equity innovation. Today, our work helps organizations redesign the human systems that shape their success by integrating organizational psychology, research, design thinking, and cultural intelligence.
My journey—from the runways of New York to national institutions—has always been about design. First garments, now systems, cultures, and human experiences. At its core is a belief that transformation is possible, and that honoring the stories that came before us creates space for others to rise.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
The pivotal experiences that shaped my path were rooted in legacy and loss. The resilience of my ancestors created the foundation, but my father’s passing became the moment where personal history, creative passion, and social purpose converged. It redefined my direction and deepened my commitment to building systems that center humanity and belonging.
What are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned through your work?
When you follow your passion, the path unfolds with clarity and momentum. What may feel like disconnected experiences are, in fact, the precise building blocks of your future. Every role and challenge contributes to the architecture of what you are meant to create.
What are your highest hopes for democracy to unite, uplift, and inspire?
I believe democracy can be a force that truly unites and uplifts when it values every voice and fosters belonging. At its best, it is not just a system of governance, but a living expression of our shared humanity—one rooted in compassion, courage, and collective progress.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself?
GlobalMindED can amplify this work by elevating diverse voices, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and accelerating systems-level change. Connecting leaders across industries, it creates the conditions for meaningful impact at scale.
Connect with Nicole McKinney:
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