Boss Ladies | Nicole Corbett

Nicole is the CEO of Worn, a mission-based creative agency that empowers women to lead. She leads a team of fearless women launching and growing women-led companies across industries. She is a first generation American with parents from Argentina and Mexico, speaks Spanish, French, and Korean. She starts her mornings with meditation, enjoys drinking decaf tea with her puppy Jack and is planning to do a sprint triathlon for the first time in Long Island this year.

As a child I dreamed of becoming—

A diplomat and nuclear negotiator.

The last photo I took on my phone was—

Of a piece of art we recently installed in our home, it’s a piece by Korean artist and is made of hundreds of rolled up prayers collected from Buddhist temples in Korea.

My guilty pleasure is—

A glass of sake and Taylor Swift’s new album.

One thing people might be surprised to learn about me is—

I speak four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Korean.

My favorite way to unwind is—

Family nap time with Jack, and my husband.

My real life heroes are—

The organizers of the Women’s March because they catalyzed women around the world and turned what could simply have been a deeply depressing day and into a loudspeaker for women around the world. They made history. I marched with my team.

What I love about my work is—

My team. They’re the best part of my work and I know how rare it is to have an incredible group of people around you that you can’t wait to see everyday. I cherish them.

The hardest thing about my work is—

Not being able to work with every single women-led company that needs help.

How I got started with my current career—

I started out as a photographer, I made print magazine in Washington, DC when I was 22. In 2013, I turned it into Worn, the agency I own today and in 2014 I moved the company to New York along with Carolyn Rush, my first employee. Three years later we have a team of 10 full-time employees.

One of the biggest mistakes I made when I was starting out was—

Comparing myself to other companies. It’s the best way to rob yourself of pride in your own accomplishments.

I used to think success meant—

Fame or fortune. That’s what society tells you success looks like everyday.

My current definition of success—

My impact on women, whether that’s helping a client grow her dream company, or creating jobs for women at Worn. It’s also my ability to do well and do good.

An example of when I had to push through my insecurities—

I do this every single time I have to be in a room full of people I don’t know, which is often, or when I give a presentation, which is multiple times per week.

For me, balance means—

Getting 8 hours of sleep and not working on weekends.

A few ways I practice self-care—

I work out with a trainer, I eat breakfast, I meditate, and I take time off to visit friends I haven’t seen in a long time.

My happiest moment in the past 6 months—

One stands out - we won a project that will have a massive impact on women in New York City. Our team shed a lot of happy tears, and I found out we won while I was on a plane and had a mini, happy, silent celebration in the middle seat. We have a video of my team celebrating and it’s extraordinary.

I feel the most beautiful in my skin—

After I get a haircut with my stylist Kelsy at Spoke and Weal. She’s the best.

I wish I could tell my younger self—

Your ambitions are only a quarter of what you are actually capable of. You’re going to meet people who will have the same dreams and you’re going to change the world together.

A favorite quote—

“Society’s vision of beauty for women is youth, and youth is weakness. Let that sink in for a minute.” My friend Sue Gilad said this the other day.