Have you ever faced a moment where everything you’ve built, everything you’ve worked for, suddenly feels threatened by circumstances beyond your control? What if you had to redefine success after life deals you an unexpected hand?
Nicole Malachowski is no ordinary guest; she is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and the first woman to fly with the elite Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds. Her remarkable military career spans over two decades, during which she broke barriers, served in high-profile positions, and earned accolades that few can claim.
In this episode, Melissa and I sit down with Nicole to dive into her awe-inspiring journey—one that took her from soaring through the skies to confronting a debilitating illness that forced her to redefine success and find new purpose. We talk about everything from balancing our careers with family life (because let’s be real, the struggle is real) to the power of vulnerability in leadership. Nicole shares how she’s learned to set boundaries, ask for help, and lead with authenticity, all while embracing the mantra “yield to overcome.”
Nicole reveals her strategy for balancing a demanding career with family life, highlighting why “work-life balance” is a myth and how to achieve “work-life harmony” instead. “I discovered that instead of chasing balance, what I needed was harmony—a rhythm that allowed me to be fully present in each role when it mattered most.”
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Asking for Help: Nicole opens up about her journey to embracing vulnerability and why asking for help is a crucial leadership skill, not a sign of weakness. “Asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength. It’s how we build trust and create authentic connections within our teams and our lives.”
- Creating a Culture of Trust: Learn about Nicole’s concept of the “wingman contract” and how it can rebuild trust and alignment within any team. “Trust is built through consistency and vulnerability. Our wingman contract is a commitment to each other—to be authentic, to be accountable, and to lead with integrity.”
- Yield to Overcome: Nicole’s life mantra, “yield to overcome,” will inspire you to focus on what you can do now, rather than what you’ve lost, and move forward with resilience. “You don’t always get a choice in what happens to you, but you do get a choice in how you respond. The runway behind you is always unusable—all you ever have is the runway in front of you.”
If you’ve ever felt like life threw you off course, this episode is for you. Nicole’s insights will not only inspire you but also give you practical tools to navigate your own unexpected turns. Plus, we talk about the importance of creating a culture of trust, both in our teams and within ourselves.
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:
The DesignDash Podcast is sponsored by Monogram Luxury Appliances.
Monogram is a long time partner and go to for us at DesignDash, as well as our design firm, Laura U Design Collective. We love them because they believe in three main pillars that we, as creatives, can easily get behind: sourcing superior Materials, offering high-quality Performance, and taking Ownership. Each of these upholds their commitment to high quality, innovation, and
