Meet Nikki Speer | Executive Director & Podcast Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nikki Speer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikki, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking plays a large roll in what I do as a Non profit founder; both good and bad. There are not many people that dream of asking people for money for a living. LOL The thing that makes us want to do this work is the good we can do together! The risk for me is that I literally knew NOTHING about non profit work other than the little volunteering I did when I was a teenager. Also, I was working part time, didn’t know all the logistics, didn’t have the funds to start a non profit and once I did my husband lost his job. There were scary moments of saying yes to the honor of keeping my mom’s legacy alive and the power of encouraging women walking through breast cancer. I am 3 years in this space and every day is like taking a risk, the risk of helping someone that won’t respond, the risk of someone saying no to our mission, BUT the risk that keeps me going is that of the woman who receives HOPE ( a post op shirt to heal from breast surgery) and knows she’s not alone in this fight!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am so thankful to be where I am today, but its an unlikely story. I was a single mom at the age of 22 with a 2 year degree and only ever working an hourly position. I was blessed to marry the father of my son and go on to be a stay at home mom for many years. I also worked for a transportation company and have written 2 books. The real joy came when I worked part time in NC at our home church, Crossroads Fellowship and saw the love and encouragement of amazing people handle my job while I was at the bedside of my dying mother. Prior to being with my sick mom, I had made a promise just months before that I would make her feel beautiful. Cancer had ravaged her breasts, torso, taken her hair, eyebrows, nails; needless to say as a daughter I wanted her to know of her beauty! Embarking on the promise I made has been some of the most trying years and rewarding years of my life. Being able to serve others in our non profit, out of the pain I have experienced has changed me, grown me and I am forever grateful for the space I am in at Redefined Courage to encourage and give a tangible gift to women recovering from breast surgery with the help of incredible people and businesses.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
No matter what city I’m in a staple is to have a good burger and a fabulous glass of wine for dinner. Oh a good cup of coffee is a staple for good conversation and a good time too! Scenery is also important to me…where I live in NC there are many greenways and that is important to me as well. There is nothing like being active while seeing beautiful scenery with a good friend.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am incredibly thankful for my husband Gerrod, my son Colin, and my daughters Savannah and Emma. When you embark on a business journey your family usually gets half of you…my family blesses me to this day by helping and encouraging our growth with Redefined Courage and I am a blessed woman!

Website: https://www.redefinedcourage.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikki.speer

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-speer/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Speer5Nicole

Facebook: www.facebook.com/redefinedcourage

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYJAvq8arOducsCgWdS8WuA

Image Credits
DVOC Photography