Nicole Heckman
Vice President, Financial Wellbeing at AARP Foundation- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Leslie Lynn Smith
Nicole is a higher level thinker, creative strategist and gifted design thinking executive. Everything she does is impeccably crafted and executed and her work product and impact are extraordinary. She's also a pure joy to work with, because she only works on the hardest and most important things. She's communicative, engaging, thoughtful and has the highest integrity. Her skills and passion are unparalleled and as soon as one project wraps up with her, I'm looking forward to the next. If you have a chance to work with her, do it. You'll be richer for it.
Pat Brown
During a three year period, Nicole drove three significant projects in which I served in various leadership roles to oversee. Over my thirty plus year career, I have leveraged consultants for wide ranging purposes. Hands down Nicole delivered at the highest level. I value most her ability to challenge my thinking in a way that is productive and creates added value for the objective in mind. This is a hard task as I have strong opinions, which I value greatly. She repeatedly offered other perspectives in a way that I listened and didn’t become defensive. Obviously, she demonstrated this with others in the project. In addition, she brings an exceptional balance of fostering big picture thinking along with practical implementation grounding. Above all, she builds consensus, seeks out inclusive perspectives and solutions, and ensures her projects remain timely and on budget.
Leslie Lynn Smith
Nicole is a higher level thinker, creative strategist and gifted design thinking executive. Everything she does is impeccably crafted and executed and her work product and impact are extraordinary. She's also a pure joy to work with, because she only works on the hardest and most important things. She's communicative, engaging, thoughtful and has the highest integrity. Her skills and passion are unparalleled and as soon as one project wraps up with her, I'm looking forward to the next. If you have a chance to work with her, do it. You'll be richer for it.
Pat Brown
During a three year period, Nicole drove three significant projects in which I served in various leadership roles to oversee. Over my thirty plus year career, I have leveraged consultants for wide ranging purposes. Hands down Nicole delivered at the highest level. I value most her ability to challenge my thinking in a way that is productive and creates added value for the objective in mind. This is a hard task as I have strong opinions, which I value greatly. She repeatedly offered other perspectives in a way that I listened and didn’t become defensive. Obviously, she demonstrated this with others in the project. In addition, she brings an exceptional balance of fostering big picture thinking along with practical implementation grounding. Above all, she builds consensus, seeks out inclusive perspectives and solutions, and ensures her projects remain timely and on budget.
Leslie Lynn Smith
Nicole is a higher level thinker, creative strategist and gifted design thinking executive. Everything she does is impeccably crafted and executed and her work product and impact are extraordinary. She's also a pure joy to work with, because she only works on the hardest and most important things. She's communicative, engaging, thoughtful and has the highest integrity. Her skills and passion are unparalleled and as soon as one project wraps up with her, I'm looking forward to the next. If you have a chance to work with her, do it. You'll be richer for it.
Pat Brown
During a three year period, Nicole drove three significant projects in which I served in various leadership roles to oversee. Over my thirty plus year career, I have leveraged consultants for wide ranging purposes. Hands down Nicole delivered at the highest level. I value most her ability to challenge my thinking in a way that is productive and creates added value for the objective in mind. This is a hard task as I have strong opinions, which I value greatly. She repeatedly offered other perspectives in a way that I listened and didn’t become defensive. Obviously, she demonstrated this with others in the project. In addition, she brings an exceptional balance of fostering big picture thinking along with practical implementation grounding. Above all, she builds consensus, seeks out inclusive perspectives and solutions, and ensures her projects remain timely and on budget.
Leslie Lynn Smith
Nicole is a higher level thinker, creative strategist and gifted design thinking executive. Everything she does is impeccably crafted and executed and her work product and impact are extraordinary. She's also a pure joy to work with, because she only works on the hardest and most important things. She's communicative, engaging, thoughtful and has the highest integrity. Her skills and passion are unparalleled and as soon as one project wraps up with her, I'm looking forward to the next. If you have a chance to work with her, do it. You'll be richer for it.
Pat Brown
During a three year period, Nicole drove three significant projects in which I served in various leadership roles to oversee. Over my thirty plus year career, I have leveraged consultants for wide ranging purposes. Hands down Nicole delivered at the highest level. I value most her ability to challenge my thinking in a way that is productive and creates added value for the objective in mind. This is a hard task as I have strong opinions, which I value greatly. She repeatedly offered other perspectives in a way that I listened and didn’t become defensive. Obviously, she demonstrated this with others in the project. In addition, she brings an exceptional balance of fostering big picture thinking along with practical implementation grounding. Above all, she builds consensus, seeks out inclusive perspectives and solutions, and ensures her projects remain timely and on budget.
Credentials
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Public Leadership Credential
Harvard Kennedy SchoolMar, 2022- Nov, 2024
Experience
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AARP Foundation
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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200 - 300 Employee
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Vice President, Financial Wellbeing
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Nov 2023 - Present
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Vice President, Benefits Access Programs
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Jul 2022 - Nov 2023
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Director, Benefits Access and Food Security
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Sep 2019 - Jul 2022
We launched Benefits Access in 2021 to help more low-income older adults access benefit programs, such as paid family leave or government support to afford nutritious food. Benefits can help the 36 million low-income adults over age 50 in the United States to afford everyday essentials and navigate unexpected life events that can strain household finances. Older adults face unique access barriers, such as caregiving duties, health issues, immobility, cognitive decline, and social… Show more We launched Benefits Access in 2021 to help more low-income older adults access benefit programs, such as paid family leave or government support to afford nutritious food. Benefits can help the 36 million low-income adults over age 50 in the United States to afford everyday essentials and navigate unexpected life events that can strain household finances. Older adults face unique access barriers, such as caregiving duties, health issues, immobility, cognitive decline, and social isolation, which contribute to lower rates of enrollment compared to younger adults. Systemic racism, compounded by discrimination based on gender, age, ability, and nationality, limits access to social services, financial capital, and jobs that pay well and provide benefits, negatively impacting the wellbeing of far too many older adults of color. Through our portfolio of programs, we work to increase benefit program awareness, remove enrollment barriers, and maximize benefit value.
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Blue Ridge Labs @ Robin Hood Foundation
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Brooklyn, NY
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Product Management Fellow
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Jun 2019 - Oct 2019
Developed and prototyped solutions using equity-centered design aimed at increasing New Yorkers' access to quality affordable housing. Developed and prototyped solutions using equity-centered design aimed at increasing New Yorkers' access to quality affordable housing.
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Little Bird Innnovation
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Memphis, TN
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Founding Partner
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Jun 2014 - Apr 2018
Co-founded and scaled research, strategy, and design firm that helped organizations exceed their goals through the discovery of deep human insights, data-driven strategy development, and crafting the path to implementation. Led strategy and new product engagements in healthcare, transportation equity, entrepreneurship, small scale manufacturing, education, civic asset utilization and economic development. Established human-centered design as viable approach to addressing complex… Show more Co-founded and scaled research, strategy, and design firm that helped organizations exceed their goals through the discovery of deep human insights, data-driven strategy development, and crafting the path to implementation. Led strategy and new product engagements in healthcare, transportation equity, entrepreneurship, small scale manufacturing, education, civic asset utilization and economic development. Established human-centered design as viable approach to addressing complex challenges in Memphis; demonstrated utility to a locally skeptical civic, philanthropic and business community. Show less Co-founded and scaled research, strategy, and design firm that helped organizations exceed their goals through the discovery of deep human insights, data-driven strategy development, and crafting the path to implementation. Led strategy and new product engagements in healthcare, transportation equity, entrepreneurship, small scale manufacturing, education, civic asset utilization and economic development. Established human-centered design as viable approach to addressing complex… Show more Co-founded and scaled research, strategy, and design firm that helped organizations exceed their goals through the discovery of deep human insights, data-driven strategy development, and crafting the path to implementation. Led strategy and new product engagements in healthcare, transportation equity, entrepreneurship, small scale manufacturing, education, civic asset utilization and economic development. Established human-centered design as viable approach to addressing complex challenges in Memphis; demonstrated utility to a locally skeptical civic, philanthropic and business community. Show less
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Course Facilitator
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2014 - 2017
Co-facilitated multi-day design thinking workshops with business and community leaders, featuring immediate application of methods on real-world projects to maximize skill building. Co-facilitated multi-day design thinking workshops with business and community leaders, featuring immediate application of methods on real-world projects to maximize skill building.
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Fogelman College of Business & Economics, University of Memphis
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United States
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Higher Education
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1 - 100 Employee
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Adjunct Professor
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2015 - 2016
Developed and taught hands-on undergraduate entrepreneurship course where students applied data-driven, lean start-up methods to their business ideas. Developed and taught hands-on undergraduate entrepreneurship course where students applied data-driven, lean start-up methods to their business ideas.
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Nourishe, LLC
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Greater Memphis Area
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Co-Founder & CEO
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Jan 2013 - May 2014
Catalyst & co-founder of a lifestyle brand for the fast-growing specialty foods market. Sold majority ownership in 2014. Catalyst & co-founder of a lifestyle brand for the fast-growing specialty foods market. Sold majority ownership in 2014.
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FedEx Services
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Truck Transportation
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700 & Above Employee
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Innovation Manager
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Dec 2007 - May 2014
Established a blended innovation team comprised of marketing, IT, and operations experts to build and implement bold, customer-centric products and strategies. Led strategic, technology-driven growth initiatives requiring cross-functional collaboration across operating companies.
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Marketing Advisor
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Sep 2004 - Dec 2007
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Sr. Product Manager, Strategic Product Planning & Dev
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Jun 2001 - Sep 2004
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Tempus
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Computer Hardware Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Data Integrity Manager
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Jan 1998 - May 2000
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Education
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2020 - 2022
Harvard Kennedy School (Online)
Public Leadership Credential -
Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College
MBA, Marketing -
Rollins College
Bachelor of Arts - BA, Psychology
Community
