ABOUT
Nicole DeFalcO
I help companies turn strategy into growth when the stakes and the complexity are rising.
I work at the intersection of strategy and execution—where good thinking either turns into growth or quietly stalls. Companies bring me in when the strategy isn’t producing the growth they expected. Sometimes the strategy needs updating. Sometimes leaders need to operate differently. Usually it’s both.
My work goes past a strategy the board approves. I run a process that engages the right voices to craft one the organization is genuinely moved by, tie it to tangible measures of success, determine the capabilities it requires, and use learning and coaching to equip people to deliver it. Aspiration, delivered.
I’m typically brought in when:
The strategy is changing, or has to
Execution depends too heavily on the CEO or a few key leaders
Growth is stretching leadership and organizational capacity
Skills and ways of working haven’t kept pace with ambition
How I show up
As a senior working partner who stays in the work with you. We roll up our sleeves together to:
Put your strategy in motion
Focus on decisions, execution, and outcomes
Apply learning, AI, and coaching to unlock progress
"I’ve had the opportunity to hire and work with Nicole DeFalco several times over the years, including having her design and facilitate some of my private executive roundtable immersive experiences.
She’s incredible at what she does. The experiences she’s designed have led to some phenomenal conversations, incredible engagement, and, more importantly, impact that sticks with people long after they leave the room. She has this unique ability to blend neuroscience, storytelling, learning, and playfulness in a way that feels incredibly human. She’s also done this work with some globally recognized organizations throughout her career."
— Michael Stamatinos, Founder at Advancing Healthcare Innovation Consortium and Managing Partner at Omorfi, Inc.
BACKGROUND
I’ve spent decades across Fortune 500 companies, high-growth firms, non-profits, and entrepreneurial ventures, in senior roles spanning sales, business development, and learning design. My work blends strategy with the behavioral side of change—because strategy only compounds when people actually work differently.
I’m a Founding Partner of Upsurge Advisors and Bridge to the Boardroom, and part of the Parson Partners leadership team. I hold an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Communication Studies from Northwestern University. I’m based in the Chicago area and work with clients nationally and globally.
What success looks like: the strategy is running the business, your leaders are carrying it without you in every decision, and growth is compounding.
Let’s talk
If you’re questioning your strategy—or struggling to make it deliver growth—let’s work through where you are and what’s getting in the way.