Being Black and Female in the NHS Leadership Landscape
Hello, my name is Nichole. I am a senior nurse in the NHS. I am enthusiastic about authentically and strategically leading the provision of high-quality patient care for all and supporting staff to develop professionally and progress in their healthcare careers. Currently the Regional Head of Nursing and Midwifery — Deputy Chief Nurse in the Workforce, Training and Education Directorate at NHS England in London, I am a leader who views leadership through a unique lens — that of engaging hearts and minds, meeting people where they are and not leaving them there as leading with moral courage to positively disrupt the status quo.
In my role, I collaborate closely with partners, including healthcare providers and higher education institutions across London, to educate, develop and sustain a world-class nursing and midwifery workforce fit for the 21st century and beyond.
Being my most authentic, inspirational self are values I hold dear to my heart. With this in mind, I enthusiastically share my passion for writing poetry and using a range of media as an accomplished digital broadcaster. This is something I am immensely proud of as an introvert. I had to speak with myself to step out of my comfort zone and optimise my platform as a credible leader who gives others from diverse backgrounds the hope that they too can achieve their full potential and, as we say in Jamaica, “live their best lives.”
As an introverted leader with a noisy mind, I am always exploring new and innovative ways to share my journey to motivate others.Over time, I have become somewhat of a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and Editorial Advisor of the Royal College of Nursing Institute’s Nursing Management Journal. It is important that I lift as I rise to ensure that my legacy will be one of someone who did not close the door on others but instead held the door open for others to self-actualise. To this end, I mentor students and nurses from diverse backgrounds to assist them to progress in their careers. I use poetry as a practitioner of healing arts in the promotion of health and well-being.
I was born and raised in Jamaica, and having worked for over two decades in the National Health Service (NHS), I proudly share my experiences as a Black woman and professional within a culturally diverse sector, giving honest & insightful reflections in my blog, The Human Touch.
I am a first-generation immigrant from Jamaica and am immensely proud of my maroon heritage. I launched my Maroon Mindset podcast in 2019, and it was named one of the best 15 UK nursing podcasts to follow in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and one of the best 20 UK motivational podcasts in 2021.
In terms of my journey, I have several milestones in which I have had to pinch myself because of the opportunities and recognition I have received. Some of these milestones are listed below:
- Awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in recognition of my contribution to nursing and my achievements in championing the benefits of diversity and inspiring others to achieve their goals using a range of mediums in 2019.
- Awarded an honorary visiting professorship at City, University of London in January 2022.
- Awarded an honorary Doctor of the University degree from Buckinghamshire New University in July 2023.
- Awarded an honorary Fellowship at the University of East London in June 2024.
Being Black and female in the NHS leadership landscape should not be seen as exception; it should be normalised, and everyone, regardless of background, should be empowered, enabled, and equipped to successfully embark on their own leadership journey and experience the deep sense of achievement and fulfilment that it provides. We have much more work to do to achieve this.
