Nicole Malachowski

Nicole Malachowski is a trailblazing fighter pilot and former White House adviser who inspires audiences to move beyond resilience and lead with courage.

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“During our time together Nicole Malachowski and I traveled across the country to visit and speak with our regional personnel. She shared her unique background, her experience, challenges she faced, and lessons learned over two decades of serving our country. At every stop the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Her unique ability to connect with each and every member of the crowd was impressive. Each individual believed she was talking directly to them and all attendees left walking a little taller. If you are looking for someone to motivate and inspire your audience you cannot do better than Nicole Malachowski. And I’ll bet you might walk a little taller, too.”

Deputy Administrator

U.S. General Services Administration

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Why book Nicole Malachowski for your next event

Nicole delivers hard-earned lessons on leadership, risk, and recovery, drawn from combat aviation, elite teams, and life-altering adversity.
Her story reframes failure as the price of progress and equips leaders with a mindset to adapt, yield, and ultimately prevail.
Audiences connect instantly with her authenticity, presence, and rare ability to translate extreme experiences into everyday leadership insight.

Non-binding request for Nicole Malachowski

First Woman Thunderbird Pilot, Combat Veteran, White House Adviser & Voice of Resurgence

Nicole Malachowski is one of the most compelling leadership voices on today’s stage. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, combat veteran, and the first woman pilot to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, she has lived a life defined by challenge, responsibility, and bold decisions. From leading fighter formations in combat to advising at the highest levels of the White House, Nicole understands what it means to perform when the stakes are real. When a devastating neurological tick-borne illness abruptly ended her flying career and left her unable to walk or speak for months, she was forced to redefine strength itself. Her story is not about bouncing back. It is about becoming resurgent and choosing growth when the path forward is uncertain.

Nicole Malachowski: From Fighter Cockpit to Global Stage

Colonel Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.), built a 21-year Air Force career that consistently placed her at the edge of performance and leadership. She earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996 and went on to Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus AFB, Mississippi. Competitively selected to fly combat aircraft, she was among the first group of women to fly modern fighter jets. As an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot, Nicole served as a Flight Commander, Evaluator, Instructor Pilot, and Flight Lead, accumulating more than 2,300 flight hours across six aircraft and achieving the rank of Command Pilot.

Her operational career included multiple combat deployments and more than 188 combat hours. One of her proudest moments came in 2005, when she led the first fighter formation to provide security for Iraq’s historic democratic elections. Nicole later made history as Thunderbird #3 with the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, becoming the first woman to fly on any Department of Defense military jet demonstration team.

Elite Leadership On and Off the Battlefield

Beyond the cockpit, Nicole’s leadership extended to the highest levels of government. As a White House Fellow during the 2008–2009 class, she served on the Presidential Transition Support Team while assigned to the U.S. General Services Administration. She later held senior staff roles at the Pentagon, including positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force Office of International Affairs.

Nicole also served as Executive Director of the White House’s national Joining Forces initiative, where she directly advised former First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. In this role, she worked on critical issues affecting service members, veterans, and military families, including employment, education, mental health, and veterans’ homelessness. Her impact was recognized with the White House Fellows Foundation and Association’s 2019 IMPACT Award for transformational contributions and sustained commitment.

Command, Responsibility, and Trust

Nicole’s operational assignments included two tours at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom and an assignment at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. She also served alongside the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea as an Air Liaison Officer. During her second tour at Seymour Johnson, she commanded the 333rd Fighter Squadron, leading an elite team of F-15E instructors responsible for training the next generation of combat aviators.

As Squadron Commander, Nicole was entrusted with resources exceeding $1.1 billion and oversaw a $119 million annual flying hour program. These experiences shaped her understanding of accountability, decision-making under pressure, and the responsibility leaders carry for both people and mission.

Education, Recognition, and Lifelong Excellence

Nicole holds two master’s degrees in national security studies. She earned a Master of Arts in National Security Policy from American Military University and a second Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. At the Naval War College, she graduated with highest distinction and received the Admiral Stephen B. Luce Award as the class honor graduate, becoming the first Air Force officer in the institution’s history to earn this distinction.

Her contributions have been recognized widely. She is an inductee into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. In 2023, she received the Award of Inspiration from The Ninety-Nines, Inc.®, honoring her influence on generations of pilots and leaders. She has even been immortalized in popular culture with a Star Trek Federation starship named in her honor, the USS Malachowski (NCC-1619).

Indomitable Spirit and the Power of Resurgence

At the height of her career, Nicole’s life changed dramatically when a neurological tick-borne illness left her struggling to walk and speak for nearly nine months. The experience forced her to confront vulnerability, uncertainty, and loss of identity. Through determination and perspective, she fought her way back and emerged with a deeper understanding of leadership and life.

Today, Nicole speaks candidly about yielding in order to overcome and about failure and risk as the entry fee for achieving something meaningful. Her personal mantra, “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life,” resonates strongly with audiences navigating complexity and change.

As she continues her recovery, Nicole is also a passionate advocate for veterans’ health and tick-borne illness awareness. She serves on the Board of Directors of the LivLyme Foundation, has contributed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, acted as a Peer Reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and supports fellow service members as an Ambassador and Mentor with the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program. She was named one of We Are The Mighty’s “Mighty 25” for her advocacy and impact within the veteran community.

Book Nicole Malachowski for Your Event

Nicole Malachowski brings audiences an extraordinary blend of credibility, humility, and inspiration. Her talks challenge people to rethink resilience and embrace resurgence as a leadership choice. When you book Nicole Malachowski for your event, you give your audience a powerful reminder that progress is possible, even after life veers far off course.

Customer Reviews

Deputy Administrator U.S. General Services Administration

“… it was the best, most inspiring, heartfelt and meaningful speech I heard all year. Even though I have never flown a jet, given birth to children, or had to deal with a tick-borne illness, you effortlessly translated your words and stories on resilience and dedication into the challenges we face every day. Keep telling your story, it was a pleasure to hear.”

Senior Vice President Commercial Operations BPG|360

“Days later I am still thinking about you and the unforgettable talk you gave to close our leadership conference. To say it was the highlight of an already exceptional conference would simply be an understatement. You touched so many people with not only your story, but the very essence of who you are as human being. You are a unique mixture of charm, vulnerability, humble strength and resilience…many of us in the audience, including myself, aspire to be more like you. You left us all with the gifts of inspiration and motivation…exactly what we needed to end a conference that was focused on driving performance and connections.”

Event Planner PM Hotel Group

“Nicole, thanks again for joining us in Wilmington! My team couldn’t have been more pleased to work with you. Your message of perseverance, determination, and overcoming roadblocks was incredibly moving and inspiring. Our group of hoteliers and developers embraced your courage, and your path resonated with the myriad of challenges we face in our industry. I was especially impressed when you joined us the day before, sat through our meetings, got to know various people, and mentioned them during your talk! I have to say that never before have I had our group rise and give a standing ovation to a guest speaker and then be asked to return to the stage for ongoing applause!”

Executive Vice President Human Resources, PM Hotel Group

“You are a spectacular speaker and I have never been to a meeting with our entire team mesmerized by anyone like they were with you. Your story is unbelievable and you are able to deliver it in such a natural and powerful way that had me in awe for days after. I haven’t been so motivated or inspired by anyone in a long time.”

Director Marketing Activation, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts

“A very special thank you for your incredible keynote at our team meeting this week. You touched my team with your brilliant and meaningful storytelling and have inspired them with your leadership and very practical tips on how to manage headwinds. You captivated their hearts and minds—and it was exactly the kind of closing I wanted to end our week of planning sessions. I know you are going to have an amazing career as a speaker as my team like me was thinking of how and where we need to have your message in our programs and will be recommending you to their network of colleagues and friends in the industry.”

SVP, CMO Marketing and Sales, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts

“An indomitable spirit whose life journey adds such warmth and depth to her powerful message. She is relatable to women and men with a fascinating narrative of overcoming trials and tribulations all while being an unwitting trailblazer in aviation, in leadership, in social awareness and in medical care.”

VP Advanced Technology Demonstration Center, Northrop Grumman

“I was at the Strayer retreat this past week, and wanted to express how much your presentation meant to me. I’m sure you get this a lot, but your stage presence is amazing but your message is life-changing. You may not know how many people in each of your audiences are affected, but I can assure you that your message spoke to me in a time of need and I just wanted to share my appreciation. I so appreciate your story and how you are so blessed to connect with others.”

Strayer University Attendee

“Colonel Nicole Malachowski recently spoke to the senior leaders in my company and did an outstanding job. In fact, I cannot recall another speaker where there was such high universal praise. She is inspiring, authentic, energizing, and a true American hero. More than a week later, there is still abuzz in the organization and I have zero doubt her remarks will leave a lasting impression on our team to embrace headwinds and navigate change more successfully.”

President and CEO of Strayer University, Inc.

“I have had the pleasure and burden of hosting speakers for major corporate and client meetings (40-7000 attendees) for the last twenty years. I refer to this part of my work as a burden only because when you chose a speaker who doesn’t hit the mark, it can have a significant impact on the experience, efficacy and ratings of an event. But when you chose well, it’s magic. I’m writing to you today to let you know that you, Nicole Malachowski, are magic! You are easily in my ‘top-5 of all-time’! In addition to be an excellent public speaker in manner, tone and approach, your presentation was stunningly inspiring, moving and motivational. And it wasn’t just a feel-good session. Every person in the room left with business and life-tools to use and share. But most of all, each and every one of us left the room with a more grateful heart. For me, this is the home run of home runs as we attempt to bring some light to the lives of our employees and clients. Thank you for being the amazing woman and role model you are, for your service to our great country and for sharing part of yourself with us. I, too, wish you blue skies and tail winds.”

President First Allied and Cetera Advisors

“Rarely have I found an entire room of business colleagues all so incredibly inspired and engaged by one speaker! Nicole’s story has the power of relating to all businesses as well as the individual journeys we are all on. Nicole’s compassion, determination and kind spirit shine through in every aspect of her presentation. The outpouring of support, after two standing ovations and many tears, made it clear her message resonated with everyone in attendance. We look forward to Nicole joining us for future conferences and highly recommend her for anyone looking for a truly exceptional experience!”

CEO of Cetera Financial Group

“Col. Nicole Malachowski took our financial professionals by storm - three weeks later, people are still talking about her. She has a unique gift of being able to relate her very interesting and exciting professional and personal life experiences to a diverse audience in a completely different profession. Her genuine conversational style made each attendee feel she was talking directly to them.”

Treasury Management Association of New York (TMANY)

“Nicole was exceptionally well received. She—truly—did a magnificent job. Connected with the audience, inspiring, thought-provoking, funny, real, open. Our colleagues couldn’t stop talking about it. Was the highlight of our event.”

UnitedHealth Group

“Most of us will never lead a squadron of F-15E fighter pilots, fly right wing for the USAF Thunderbirds or have our careers transformed as a result of a tick bite. But your storytelling took us there for a brief moment and the lessons they represent—failure and risk are the price of entry for achieving something great; plow your own path; nobody wants to lead a scripted life; etc.—resonate in a way that can change lives, personal and professional. You are one of the most engaging and effective speakers I have come across—a humble force that touches people emotionally. Without question, you presented exactly the message we wanted to share with our elite performers.”

Chairman and CEO SunTrust Banks, Inc.

“We were already excited to hear Nicole speak because of her impressive bio, but her presentation still blew us away. She has a compelling personal as well as professional story to tell. And she does it with a passion and vulnerability that create a strong connection with her audience. Five minutes into her presentation, you could tell that she had our group hooked. Nicole creates a three-dimensional experience for her listeners – we had the sense that we were with her in the cockpit of her fighter jet as she recounted experiences of flying with the Air Force’s Thunderbird team. Her presentation resonated so deeply with our audience that people are still talking about her presentation a week later and employees who could not attend are asking to see the video of her presentation. Nicole is professional, organized, timely, and an all-around pleasure to work with. She was thoughtful in researching our organization and event so she could craft her discussion to fit our audience.”

Investments Director Fundamental Equities, Invesco Advisers, Inc.

“We cannot thank YOU enough for bringing your inspiring, moving, profound, vulnerable, INCREDIBLE story to our team. If your ears have been ringing it is 120 people saying you were the absolute highlight of the whole offsite. And many told me you were the BEST speaker they have ever heard. [And these people hear a lot of speakers.]”

Training Manager Genentech

“I want to thank you so much for being THE highlight of our Women in Specialty Pharmacy luncheon last week! Your keynote address was one of the most empowering and impactful that I have ever heard. Our attendees could not stop talking about how fabulous you are and I think the line of folks who wanted to meet you and have their picture taken with you is a testament of how well your message resonated with our attendees.”

Executive Director National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP)

“Everyone...I mean everyone…left raving about your message. As you can imagine being in healthcare as executive I hear a lot of people speak. You are an exceptional speaker and have an incredible message to share with anyone that’s looking at ways to be motivated to improve themselves. So yes, count me in as a card holding member of your fan club.”

Chairman Board of Directors, National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP)

“…not only did she receive a standing ovation, but the line of attendees seeking to talk with her after the meeting was the longest I had ever seen at such an event – and she took the time to meet all of them.”

Law Firm Vendors Association

“Everyone sitting near me (including myself) agreed that you were the best speaker we have ever heard, hands down.”

Senior Counsel Member Service, ALAS

“…she was the absolute ‘best’ speaker we have ever hired. With that, the leadership from Major Account Summit have asked, how do we give her a bonus? She was that good.”

Manager Meeting & Events, Kaiser Permanente

“Your presentation was amazing! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and were so inspired by your story. I can truly say you were the highlight of the conference. I heard so many positive comments from so many of our attendees who were touched by your talk.”

MCAA

“Automotive News had the pleasure of having Colonel Nicole Malachowski serve as the closing keynote speaker at our 2018 Leading Women Conference on October 30th. She was outstanding and delivered an authentic, actionable message that hit home for every executive — male or female — who is trying to set clear goals, break barriers and improve their career path. Her thought-provoking message was delivered with passion and authority. She left our audience of leading women with a clear path to achieve greatness, create change and make better, brave decisions.”

Conference Director Automotive News

“We engaged Nicole to speak at our conference on Advancing Women in Law Firm Leadership. Nicole is a captivating speaker with a truly motivational story. She is energetic, personable, and authentic – and the audience was riveted throughout her entire presentation. I wholeheartedly recommend Nicole as a speaker!”

Senior Vice President Attorneys’ Liability Assurance Society (ALAS)

“As we know, Nicole Malachowski is amazing; and our members now know it, too. I know she is one of your top speakers already but just know she may be the most inspirational speaker I have ever hired. Our attendees could not stop singing her praises at our reception following the presentation.”

American Boiler Manufacturers Association

“We have been fortunate to have over 30 speakers over the few years present at our sales conference. Based on survey results, your session was the highest ranked ever! You have a great message and more significantly, an incredible way to connect with the audience. I personally loved the way you weaved in our values and our message with your message of Pushing the Envelope.”

CEO Extra Storage Space

“In my 14 years of working with our conference speakers, I have never had such an immediate flood of positive feedback from our members regarding Nicole’s session. There were just a little over 1,000 people in attendance at the session and they gave her the third highest rating for a keynote speaker in the 92-year history of our Association’s event.”

Senior Director Education, Club Management Association of America

“…the best speaker we have ever had in the 28 years this event has been held. I strongly recommend her to future clients.”

Group Vice President and General Manager Lexus Division

“Nicole was PHENOMENAL! One of the best speakers we’ve ever had. She was down to earth, had a powerful story and really cared about adjusting her message to fit the audience. If there are ever any groups in the AHA looking for a keynote, I will highly recommend her to them.”

American Hospital Association (AHA)

“The conference attendees raved about your presentation and were truly able to relate to all that you shared. I very much appreciate you creating a unique presentation for us based on our discussions. The emphasis and importance you placed on all players and how important each individual is to the “Wingman Contract” came through loud and clear to everyone at the conference!”

HM Health Solutions

“Colonel Malachowski is an inspiring, authentic speaker and leader. She speaks from the heart as she tells a story of determination, grit, attention to details and service to others.”

Raymond James & Associates

“I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that Nicole was an absolute homerun. I know her message made a profound and lasting effect on many of my colleagues, including me. Plus, she is just so nice and human. It’s really special. I’m not sure how I will top her for future events!”

PURE Insurance

“She was INCREDIBLE! Thank you!”

Global Business Travel Association

“Nicole was a tremendous inspiration to our members. Her story of conquering a multitude of challenges demonstrated how to overcome adversity. Nicole was able to engage with our audience and they left with a real sense of empowerment. I would highly recommend Nicole to any audience. Many of our contractors said she was the best speaker we have ever had.”

CEO National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)

“She was a home run!!! We loved her!”

Golden Corral

“It takes resilience to be the best.” We were honored to have Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) speak at our Breakfast Session, Harnessing Headwinds at the ANCC National MAGNET Conference this morning. Nicole’s message was inspiring as she discussed strategies you can leverage to increase resilience when faced with overwhelming challenges and adversity.

Senior Vice President Elsevier

“Nicole was amazing and stole the hearts of every woman in the room. She got 2 standing ovations and there were lots of tears shed. She took questions and stayed through the break to take photos and gave hugs to many of the women who lined up to meet her. You can’t imagine how impactful it was in a room of 100 professional economic development women.”

Women in Education

“Nicole left our entire audience in AWE and for the remainder of the conference she was a reference point for conversations and motivation in how we could develop plans to overcome challenges of our own. If you ever have the opportunity to see or hear Nicole speak it is a must see event that will not disappoint!!”

Member, Board of Directors National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange, Inc. (NCTUE)

“Nicole Malachowski shares a powerful message of perseverance and resilience. She is able to connect with her audience by being deeply authentic and vulnerable in her story telling. We related to her on a personal level even though our individual stories and experiences differ greatly from her own. We all have challenges in our lives and how we choose to face those headwinds of change will be a little less daunting by taking Nicole’s lessons and putting them into practice.”

Director of Operations Memorial Hermann Healthcare System

“We had the best conference on Friday and that was in large part due to Nicole’s talk. She was amazing and I have heard so much positive feedback from the crowd.”

Colorado Children’s Hospital

“Book her now! I have worked with many speakers throughout my career and by far Nicole is the best. Easy to work with, engaged and humble. She did her homework and tied in our mission to her remarks and hit the nail on the head on how our audience of over 800 people can work together as a team. She was funny, passionate and drove home her points. We had attendees lined up for 45 minutes afterward to speak to her personally and she was gracious in speaking to every one of them.”

Savannah Economic Development Authority

“A true honor and blessing to have Nicole Malachowski ignite our leadership team with her amazing story and real-life examples helping us all break through barriers. Nicole was able to read her audience and connect her points to our role as leaders in healthcare and truly engaged the entire team. Rarely do you have someone like her tell their story and authentically connect with the audience in such a way that people walk away inspired and motivated with tools and tips fueling us to reach even higher and beyond the boundaries to make a difference each and every day.”

Chief Executive Officer Asante Three Rivers Medical Center

"Nicole was wonderful! exceeded all expectations, Thanks for your kind assistance!”

PagerDuty

“Col. Nicole Malachowski was our keynote virtual presenter at our annual United Way of Broward County’s Women United Magnolia Luncheon. Col. Nicole Malachowski presented in webinar style and then participated in a virtual Q&A style discussion with the ‘who’s who’ women of the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. United Way had to cancel our in-person Women United extravaganza and pivot to a virtual event but not without great trepidation. BUT, I am so glad we did because Colonel Malachowski kicked it out of the park and exceeded our (and our 400 guests) expectations. We received so much positive feedback regarding Nicole that I could not keep up with my text messages and emails praising her. Not only was she so well received by the audience, she was so wonderful to work with, personable and spent extra time answering questions from all the guests. Her visual set-up and pre-preparation with us was Top of Class and added visually to her inspiring storytelling and genuine nature of relating to the audience. It felt like she was directly and personally speaking to each of us. She is a powerful speaker!! A true genuine storyteller, and encourages you to be the author of your own script. Even though the event was several weeks ago, we are still hearing how fantastic our keynote speaker, Col. Nicole Malachowski was! She is truly an inspiration! I highly recommend considering Col. Malachowski to speak at your virtual event.”

United Way of Broward County (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Thank you for a fantastic and engaging presentation this morning…the feedback during and after the meeting has been awesome; there was an ‘everyone’ Zoom chat underway during your session with ‘awesome’ and ‘fantastic’ included in the comments. I have had personal messages from various leaders commenting on how inspiring, relatable and relevant your experiences are. I wish we could have gone longer! After Lunch we conducted breakout sessions and each group took one of your stories, and the questions you posed, and explored how it relates to Momenta. It started some great conversations; as each spokesperson provided their summary after the breakouts, it was evident that the themes of trust, teamwork, vulnerability and courage had really resonated with everyone – each spokesperson referred to and connected with the previous team’s summary, all referring to you as Nicole (you’re part of the Momenta family now).”

Momenta Pharmaceutical (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“We were thrilled to have Nicole as one of the keynote speakers at the Vistage Women in Leadership Event 2020. From my first call with her, I knew that hearing from Nicole was going to be a special experience for our members. In this age of virtual events, Nicole’s energy and focus kept our participants engaged and prompted an enthusiastic chat conversation among our participants who were effusive in their praise of her. Her message is up-building, life giving and brings value for anyone who is struggling to keep their head up in challenging times, looking for inspiration in the journey.”

Vistage (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“I can’t thank you enough for your incredibly engaging and inspirational virtual address at our Sales Meeting today. Your experience-based themes resonated really well, your unique stories and experiences were very relatable, and of course your delivery was polished and entertaining. This was the most engaging speech I’ve heard in quite some time (possibly ever) and I wouldn’t hesitate to have you back to speak to other areas within my company.”

Mark L. Roberts Chief Executive Officer, Morton Salt, Inc. | A K+S Company (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Nicole has a multi-faceted story of overcoming adversity to achieve peak performance and she has adapted to tell that story in a compelling way during this time of virtual leadership meetings. Her messages about overcoming unexpected turbulence and harnessing headwinds were especially powerful for our leaders as we’ve shifted to serve customers and support our teams differently during a time of crisis. Nicole is a high flyer, brings great energy and would be a smart addition to any program.”

Cox Communications (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Nicole was AMAZING! I have heard so many positive comments and feedback.”

Janus Henderson (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“This is the second time I have used Nicole. She is powerful. She connected so eloquently to the ‘business’ and made all her themes resonate and apply pragmatically. The audience was buzzing – and really enjoyed her. They are requesting another go around on her patient level view as well as her advocacy role. I am incredibly inspired by Nicole – and in awe of her achievements.”

CCFord Healthcare (VIRTUAL EVENT)

"In my 35 years as part of the financial services industry, I’ve seen a lot of great speakers, inspirational speakers. Nicole is the absolute best I’ve ever seen. Her story is inspirational, her delivery is superb. But most of all, Nicole spent the time and energy to get to know OUR story so that her presentation was really about US. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and I truly believe that we will be more successful and happy in our professional and personal pursuits as a result of being blessed with Nicole’s inspirational presentation."

National Sales Manager Transamerica (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“I’d like to thank Colonel Nicole Malachowski for an outstanding delivery at our year-end company-wide event. A welcome relief to our Zoom fatigue, her presentation was a perfect transition to shift our mindset forward to 2021. We all realize there are unexpected headwinds in life and business. Nicole’s interpretation of these headwinds as they relate to our corporate world were derived from a battlefield experience that landed a heartfelt and personally impactful message to our global staff. We are a top Managed Service Provider in the financial sector with 200+ employees globally. Though we were not able to meet in person, we found Nicole to be equal parts compelling and motivating. Nicole’s impressive career in the Air Force and the experiences she shared taught us about overcoming and moving forward. She showed us that her real-life stories are not unrelated to what we experience daily in the IT industry. The technical definition of headwinds is of course, a wind in the opposite direction to the course of an aircraft. Headwinds can also be defined as a force or influence that inhibits progress. Her perspective on how to harness headwinds and take control is a lesson I would recommend to leaders and employees across all industries. If you’re looking to energize your team and boost momentum, Nicole should be your first call. She will expand on strategies to help in your personal and work life in the now and in the future. And well, Nicole says it best, ‘No one wants to lead a scripted life.’”

CEO Edge Technology Group (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“It has been a pleasure meeting you and working with you on this event, your professionalism and flexibility SOARS (pun intended) above other speakers of your caliber. You provide such a unique story and perspective while still connecting with each of us individually. Our team and membership appreciate the time you took to get to know us and our membership. In addition to your presentation the audience loved interacting with you, and while you are not a typical ‘healthcare industry’ speaker you made an effort to learn what was important to our audience and cater the presentation to that – that did not go unnoticed – and we received various positive comments noting that.”

Director of Operations Lehigh Valley Business Coalition on Healthcare (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“We’re rolling her presentation right now, and she’s getting nonstop ‘virtual’ applause in our platform.”

Takeda Pharmaceuticals (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Can’t thank you enough for Nicole. She was absolutely terrific, I don’t even know where to start. She touched us all and we’re absolutely in awe/speechless. Inspiring, motivating and just a really nice person. So lucky to have had the opportunity to hear from her.”

A&E Network (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“If I was to summarize I’d say that your hour long presentation has done more to catalyze AVEVA’s New Horizons journey than the rest of the event put together (and that’s saying something, because this is the best digital event we’ve ever run). You are a complete inspiration and we are blessed to have had you work with us…I suspect it won’t be the last time either!”

Sales Enablement Director AVEVA Solutions Inc. (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Nicole did a stellar job, tailoring her content to our specific needs and delivering it with confidence, energy, and enthusiasm. We feel privileged to have someone of her caliber spend time with our team to share stories and words of encouragement. She truly was the highlight of our event!”

Kimberly-Clark (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“…our experience with Nicole was incredible. She’s very down to earth and humble. Her presentation was outstanding. She did an amazing job at bringing our values and interconnecting them with her message. Everyone… truly enjoyed it and left inspired. She’s remarkable!”

Land, Buildings & Real Estate Stanford University

“Such an amazing presentation today by Nicole. I just don’t even have words to describe how she hit it out of the park – pure awesomeness!!!”

Human Resources Business Partner Raytheon (VIRTUAL EVENT)

Nicole will come prepared to meet your event’s objective, she will inspire your audience with poignant personal stories and is incredibly down-to-earth for someone who’s pushed the limits at the greatest heights.”

Senior Director Marketing, Zebra Technologies

“Our organization LOVED the session. We will be compiling the positive comments we’ve received and passing them along. The theme of the talk aligned so well with our safety culture and strategy, and Nicole was an absolute pro at connecting her message to ours.”

Nutrien

“You absolutely ROCKED the Network Event today! Thank you so much for your message. We are honored to have heard you. Most importantly, your message of leading through the Fog & Friction was perfectly on point. I look forward to connecting with you in the future.”

President and CEO Network Services, Inc.

“Nicole was MAGICAL. She is a remarkable human being and feel very lucky to have heard from her. Her stories were inspiring and came at a perfect time.”

Medical Operations Leader Takeda Pharmaceutical Company

“Nicole was just fantastic and the perfect speaker for our Annual Dinner. I have not worked with a speaker that was as easy to work with as Nicole. I can't say enough good things about her!”

University of Nevada Las Vegas Foundation

“We engaged Nicole to present at our recent virtual Comerica Bank Women’s Business Symposium. Our audience of over 700 guests were totally captivated by her stories of grit, determination and vulnerability too. The term ‘goosebumps’ popped up in the chat and it was the perfect word to describe her message and our experience!”

Director of Events and Contributions Comerica Bank (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“I didn’t sit in on her recording session but watched the final cut and WOW! She is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! We’re really excited to share this with our audience on Thursday.”

Riverbed Technology, Inc.

“While I am confident you get positive comments on a regular basis, I always feel compelled to provide feedback when somebody goes above and beyond – and you did just that! To a person, the response to your presentation was outstanding and many felt it was the best that they had ever attended. Your style, message, passion, and the way you made it relevant to our team all made for a fantastic experience and made you a ‘rock star’ in the discussions that evening. You were able to create a level of motivation in those that attended that enhanced the business message we provided following you – that is something that does not always happen. You being able to tie-into and reinforce our messages was a big win for us and shows you did your homework…Your story is one I hope many get to hear in the future, as I do not see how somebody can walk away from your presentation and not feel a higher level of motivation to just do better both personally and professionally every day.”

President and CEO Isuzu Commercial Truck of America

“The best leadership and motivational speaker I have ever had the privilege to listen to. Engaging from the moment she took the stage until the second she exited. I wish my daughters had been with me to hear her speak.”

Chief Technical Officer Modivcare

“WOW! Nicole was awesome! So generous with her time this morning and just completely genuine. We truly enjoyed having her here at BICSI.”

Building Industry Consulting Service International

“She was amazing from arrival, unbelievable on the main stage plus incredibly gracious in the VIP Photo. In my 24 years of being a meeting planner, Nicole is in my Top 5 as a speaker with her empowering content and we’re lucky to have someone like her sharing her message. Super human in my book! WOW!”

Principal & Senior Event Producer planit inc.

“She was an absolute show-stealer – phenomenal, captivating, and exactly what this group needed…perfection.”

Northrop Grumman Corporation (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“I can’t tell you how impressed I was with you personally, and your presentation to our group. I appreciated the way you were able to weave our Core Values into your presentation so seamlessly. We have several franchisees who are part of large organizations, or larger franchise groups. Without exception, they told me that you were one of the most inspiring keynote speakers (in many cases, THE most) they have ever heard.”

Scooter’s Coffee

“Nicole was an absolute delight as usual and got the first standing ovation for a virtual presenter I’ve never see that before.”

Otsuka (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“…the most inspirational, connected, and all-around best leadership address I’ve ever heard. Needless to say, executives and attendees are still talking about you and your impact.”

Director Enterprise Change Management, Otsuka

"In 30 years of events, I have never had so many supplier appreciation attendees rave about any of our other VIP speakers than I had about you. The best we've ever had!"

CEO Chase Plastics

“I would say the biggest hit was Nicole – not only did they love her talk, but she took the time to walk around the foyer outside the ballroom and talk to people. She was so humble and appreciative. The most unassuming, friendly and gracious speaker I have ever worked with. She was a joy.”

American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)

“We hired Nicole to speak at a lunch & learn our company was hosting at a conference. Our target audience has been experiencing much change in their industry so Nicole’s tailored message on Harnessing Headwinds of Change really resonated with them. Nicole has great talent for connecting with the audience with her relatable and genuine personality. Based on feedback from our customers, her story definitely made an impact on them. I highly recommend Nicole to anyone who is looking for a speaker that will engage their audience and influence them to think differently about their challenges.”

Senior Marketing Manager Elsevier

“As expected, Nicole knocked it out of the park!! We couldn’t have asked for more; Nicole is truly an inspiration and a very cool human being. Please relay our deep gratitude to her for the inspiration she brought to our team at a time when they really needed it.”

Johnson & Johnson

"Impactful. Authentic. Inspiring. She is real and delivers a message every leader will walk away with the opportunity to improve themselves and their team.”

President & CEO National Tank Truck Carriers

“Col. Malachowski’s presentation was a significantly impactful part of our leadership meeting. She not only provided an interesting and engaging presentation, she smoothly wove together the key points of her presentation with our meeting objectives. Her talk set an inspirational and cogent tone for our meeting participants.”

Regional President-South Region Global Medical Response

“RS&H had Nicole Malachowski as our closing keynote speaker at our Officers' meeting in August 2022, and it was the best decision we could've made for our program. Her words were powerful and inspirational. Her message was clear. She told stories and showed videos and pictures to which many of our attendees could relate. We were all on the edge of our seats, and I mean that literally. Nicole Malachowski is the perfect addition to your program.”

RS&H Architecture Engineering, and Consulting

“Thank you for being a “real person” and for creating a moment that our team and customers will never forget.”

Director of Sales Optima Health

“Nicole absolutely knocked it out of the park at our conference. I have been doing this a long time and I have never received feedback regarding a guest speaker like I did this year. A true professional who took the time to learn about our business and tie her presentation to the values and mission of our company. Truly outstanding.”

Chief Operating Officer Troon

“…Nicole knocked it out of the park. She was definitely a hit and folks could not stop talking about her session…Just phenomenal.”

Wood PLC

"As always, Nicole hit a home run! Her message greatly resonated with the audience! A lot of her language is being used: loosen my grip, etc. An activity we did at the end of the conference was definitely in the spirit of Steel Sharpens Steel. She truly is a gem.”

W.R. Grace

“Nicole Malachowski brought energy, enthusiasm, and a message of resiliency to our annual Future of Schools Symposium. She related to the educators in the audience by speaking to their challenges and how to face them in times of adversity. The accolades and amazing reviews from our audience continue to materialize along with messages of how they will utilize Colonel Malachowski’s message with their own teams.”

CEO TransCend4TransCend4

"Simply the best speaker we have ever had in 32 years! Period!"

CEO Chairman of the Board, Founder of Troon

“AMAZING…the group can’t stop talking about her!”

Aetna

“Col. Nicole Malachowski engaged our audience with her stories of courage, trust and vulnerability, leaving our field sales organization, energized and inspired. Our attendees cannot stop talking about the lessons learned, and many are saying that she was the best speaker they have ever heard.”

Vice President Sales Enablement Aetna

"She was an absolute superstar who captivated our audience of over 300 people. Nicole truly has a gift for leaving lasting impressions. Long after she departed, all the attendees could talk about was how inspired they felt after hearing Nicole's story!"

CEO Vista Solutions Group

“I had so many of our team come up to me to say how much they appreciated what you had to say about trust, being trustworthy and bringing your authentic self to the office. You definitely made a positive impact on our meeting and particularly made an impact on the women in the audience.”

Intelsat

“Nicole was over the top perfection last night! Her remarks were thoughtful, intellectually substantive, and her personal story simply amazing. You could hear a pin drop in the room while she spoke.”

Sailfish Point

“Nicole did a fantastic job yesterday! The queue to speak her/meet her after the Session was long and she was so patient and giving of her time.”

United Therapeutics

“Ok, so we are halfway through, and I am speechless, WOW!”

FIS

"She’s incredible…I teared up at the end and almost had a shaky voice for Q&A! That was my favorite event that we’ve held. "

Moderator Santander Bank

"Nicole’s insights and expertise on leadership, change, and transformation were awe-inspiring and left a lasting impact on me and everyone in the audience. She was engaging, informative, and inspiring. We loved how Nicole shared practical advice and real-life examples that we can all apply in our work and personal lives. Her energy and passion for leadership were contagious and had everyone feeling motivated and ready to take action. Her ability to connect with the audience and make everyone feel seen and heard impressed me. Her authenticity and relatability made her speech even more impactful and memorable. Nicole is an incredible speaker and a true inspiration to us all."

Director of Marketing JM Family

“Colonel Nicole Malachowski was one of the most powerful keynote speakers we have hosted at our annual senior leadership conference. Her stories of personal leadership, accountability, humility, and servant leadership were inspirational, yet practical. She captivated the audience with her story telling. She also took the time to understand our organization and wove key elements of our company culture and values into her presentation, creating a memorable experience for all. Her authentic style provoked laughter, awe, and motivation. We were so very honored to host her as our keynote.”

SVP and CHRO & CAO Great American Insurance Group

“We were grateful for Nicole’s inspiring message about harnessing headwinds in difficult times at our bank’s annual meeting. She took the time to understand our organization and our audience members ahead of the event. This made a huge difference in the delivery of her stories and the messages she shared of resilience and perseverance as a combat fighter and the first female Thunderbird in US aviation history. Nicole was relatable, funny, inspirational, and challenging. She is an outstanding presenter and quite simply an incredible human being. We look forward to inviting her back.”

Director of Corporate Events Farm Credit Bank of Texas

“Outside of the actual story and message – which to say it is inspiring would be an understatement – I have never seen someone connect with the audience the way you did. On top of that, the way you integrated our theme and pillars to your message in a thoughtful way was incredible. The work you put in to making it a success was on full display and it was the perfect way to kick off our conference.”

Managing Director Private Investor Group

“Nicole was hands down the best keynote speaker I have heard. Her message was relevant, poignant and spoke to every person in the room. Many of her themes are now a part of our culture here at Imperva!”

Sales Enablement VP Imperva

“Nicole Malachowski is an engaging, inspiring and relevant keynote speaker. She recently received a standing ovation at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference, an audience of entrepreneurs and business leaders. I recommend Nicole for your next event.”

EVP & Chief Content Officer Franchise Update Media

“This shouldn’t come as a surprise…Nicole was a hit. She nailed it out of the park. Standing ‘o’ at the end and the feedback? Incredible. So many people were touched and connected by what she had to say. And let’s not forget what an amazing person she is! I could have talked with her for hours. She was incredible to work with and someone I hope I get to meet again.”

Emcor

“Nicole is an engaging, authentic and inspirational speaker who will energize your group. Reckitt Health recently had the pleasure of hearing Nicole address our teams on the importance of trust, courage, vulnerability and pushing the envelope to drive out performance. Working with Nicole was a joy – she was genuinely curious to learn more about our business culture & values so she could tailor her message to be even more relatable to the team. I would recommend her to anyone who wants to engage and inspire their team.”

Reckitt Health

“Colonel Nicole Malachowski is an exceptional speaker who embodies the qualities of a true American hero. She has this innate ability to form a genuine connection with every member of the audience. She’ll effortlessly draw parallels between her high-stakes world, essential business principles, and the challenges we face in our own professional and personal lives…I’ve been so fortunate to have her as a featured keynote at two different companies and she continually showcases her unparalleled expertise as a speaker and scores top audience ratings…With Nicole, you can be confident that every element of the event will be seamlessly orchestrated, resulting in an enjoyable and moving experience for all involved. She truly leaves a lasting impression for every audience member and was our highest ranked speaker at our largest client event of the year. Planning tip – have tissues in the room, there will be tears in the very best way.”

Marketing Director Private Advisor Group

“In the world of top-level inspirational and informative keynote speakers, Nicole Malachowski is a standout. IAMC’s audience is full of senior-level professionals who attend a lot of events, and they can be difficult to impress. At our recent conference, she exceeded their elevated expectations, and they left her session energized and uplifted with takeaways that they were excited to implement immediately. Even if you can only book one speaker this year, choose Nicole Malachowski.”

Senior Director of Communications & Marketing Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC)

“The buzz is already beginning throughout the company and your message fit so perfectly with our organization. You have a way of taking very complex topics and simplifying them – being vulnerable, earning and demonstrating trust, organizational alignment, accountability from top to bottom…I could go on and on.”

Senior Vice President American Financial Group, Inc.

“Yesterday was a raving success! Nicole’s message was incredibly well received by our employees. We officially had over 1500 attendees, but we know that there were ‘watch parties’ in certain areas so the actual number of employees was much higher. We have received so many notes of thanks from our employees – just overall a great event with an engaging and inspiring speaker!”

Great American Insurance Group (GAIG)

“Nicole was amazing! We loved having her and so did the audience. She has such a powerful story to tell and really captivates the audience. It is hard not to get emotional hearing her speak as you can tell it's really from the heart, especially when she talks about her struggles overcoming Lyme disease and how it affected her long term. She even mentioned to me privately that she still struggles today not being able to see letters and numbers in her head. She was so professional, kind, and personable as well. She even asked to go up to the tech table and thank the crew before the session started as she knew she had to depart right after to catch a flight and wouldn't have time then. We very much enjoyed having her!”

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)

“Nicole was absolutely incredible and truly set the bar for the rest of our conference. I lost count of the number of attendees who told me she was by far the best keynote they have ever heard from. I was so impressed with how she hung around after and spoke to every single attendee who went up to her for a photo or to tell their story. She was such a genuine speaker, and it was such an honor for us to have her. I have no idea how we are going to top her in 2024.”

Private Risk Management Association (PRMA)

“Nicole was simply the best. She is one of a kind. I absolutely adored her. She's just so genuine and real. Her message is outstanding. Everywhere I went, people asked where I found her and just how wonderful she was. I had many people that attended these annual conferences and they all said she was the best speaker they've ever heard.”

North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL)

“Nicole has an incredibly compelling message around staying true to yourself and your goals, leveraging the power of the team, overcoming adversity, and managing through ambiguity. Her delivery is extremely humble and engaging, with a nice balance of humor, anecdote, and advice, and she comes across as highly engaging and relatable. A perfect choice for any team undergoing challenging change, setting a strategic vision, or working to operate at a higher level of potential.”

CFO WestRock Company

“As an event planner with nine years of experience, I have seen many keynote speakers in my career, but you exceeded all my expectations. You managed to connect with the audience in a way that I have never seen before. Your message and story perfectly aligned with our company's values and the program's message. Your story is truly inspiring, and it was especially impactful to see a kind but also strong woman on stage. You are an incredible person, a wonderful speaker, and a fantastic role model.”

Senior Manager Events and Experiences, Bandwidth

“Nicole was awesome. She was so pleasant, personable, energetic, and the ultimate professional. Everything about her from start (pre-event conference call) to finish (departing event and flying back home coincidentally sitting next to the CEO talking up the events team) was an amazing experience for everyone. I cannot wait to talk with our other clients about her and working toward securing her again for a future date. Her keynote was exceptional. On point with the topics and she consistently integrated key people and messages that made the client shine. Everyone was so pleased and grateful she was our speaker this year.”

Founder Stonewood Entertainment

“The best keynote I have heard in 45 years of going to conferences. I have never seen anyone better prepared to connect with the audience and Alera's goals and objectives. Truly the height of professionalism.”

Managing Partner Alera Group

“Nicole absolutely brought the house down – she nailed it!! Her charisma, authenticity, and ability to deeply connect with her audience had the room fully engaged for 60 minutes in a way I’ve never seen. Several participants have told me it was hands-down the best presentation they’ve ever seen at a corporate event. And I completely agree. We also had several members of our Executive Leadership Team in the audience and they were equally impressed with her as well. Thank you for recommending her, she is amazing!”

Stericycle

“We were looking for a speaker who could talk about high performing teams at our convention of 600 people. Nicole's Air Force career and time with the Thunderbirds seemed like a great fit. Her presentation surpassed our expectations. The lessons that she shared along with personal stories as examples resonated with our audience. Everyone could take something away from her presentation. It was a pleasure to work with Nicole and what a great role model for men and women.”

Executive Director BPAMA

“Nicole’s impact on our team was noticeable. The room was buzzing with excitement, joy and a new-found energy to crush their mission. Nicole’s journey is admirable but her ability to relate her life lessons to one in corporate culture were unparalleled and impactful. If you’re thinking about hiring someone who will instill the importance of courage, trust, vulnerability and living a life unscripted - look no further, Nicole is your person.”

VP Global Head of Marketing, Bandwidth

“Nicole was fantastic! The group loved her speech and she was overall the highlight of the event!”

Manager TechOps Training, Delta Airlines

“Nicole was great!! We have been receiving very positive feedback.”

Vice President Conferences & Events, SIFMA

“Nicole's keynote was nothing short of remarkable! Her thorough research and preparation were evident as she effortlessly connected with our audience on multiple levels. She tailored her message to resonate with our attendees, effectively challenging us all to think higher because “nobody wants to leave a scripted life”. Beyond her captivating delivery and compelling storytelling, Nicole exudes authenticity and passion, making her message even more impactful. Her ability to instill a sense of empowerment and drive for positive change is truly unmatched."

SVP Operations, CQ Partners

"Nicole’s presentation at our annual corporate employee kickoff was nothing short of inspiring, blending powerful personal stories with actionable insights on leadership, resilience, and high performance. Her candor and authenticity resonated deeply, leaving a lasting impression on our global employee base. The feedback from our attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, with many citing Nicole's keynote as a highlight of the event, impacting the way we think about leadership within our company. If you are looking for a speaker with natural humility, applicable wisdom, authentic storytelling, and a knack for fostering a genuine connection with their audience, Nicole is THE perfect choice."

President WW Sales, OpenText

“Nicole exceeded our expectations! Her ability to bring leadership concepts to life through powerful stories is exceptional. Her keynote left our leaders energized and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Executive Vice President, People, Magid Glove & Safety Manufacturing Company LLC

“I don’t think I can convey the degree of impact you had on our team. All the feedback was incredibly positive and our people were riveted to your stories and insights. We were able to use the themes and takeaways from your presentation throughout the rest of the day. You are truly a skilled presenter and do an amazing job of balancing pacing, humor, tone, timing, use of media and audience connection. What I appreciate most about you is how authentic you are, and your willingness to share so much of yourself with others. I hope you realize how much of a positive impact you make on others – just by being who you are.”

Head of Business Area Talent & Organizational Capability, Lockheed Martin

“Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.), recently spoke at our Annual Conference. Not only was she an inspiration, but she was also one of the most approachable, down-to-earth humans I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Nicole was engaging, inspiring, funny, and a true testament to what excellence and determination can achieve. She will make you proud to be an American and will be a resounding success at your event. I cannot recommend Nicole highly enough! 12 out of 10!”

Georgia Association of Community Hospitals

"Nicole was phenomenal. She was so personable, friendly, and just a fantastic speaker. She was easy to relate to and her story is something that I’m sure every person could find something to take away. Something that didn’t come up in her presentation, but that came across in the Q & A, was her illness and how she has persevered through challenges and found the ability to come back and reinvent herself. Her strength and determination are so inspiring. She really was incredible."

Senior Director of Franchise Support The Human Bean

"Nicole was a highlight at our 20th anniversary conference. She is a true treasure and was able to relay her message in a genuine way leaving our attendees feeling empowered and inspired.”

Global Events Director LifeWave

“It was AMAZING!! She was SO good and the team was very engaged! We had a great time at dinner last night, overall just an amazing experience! Thank you so much for this, honestly, it was so great!. 10000% happy to recommend her!”

Google Cloud

“Nicole Malachowski was an outstanding keynote speaker at our recent event. She delivered a powerful, engaging message that deeply resonated with our audience, seamlessly incorporating our company's specific initiatives into her presentation. It was evident she did her homework, and her thoughtful preparation made her message all the more impactful. Beyond her presentation, Nicole was kind, humble, and incredibly flexible. She took our suggestion of incorporating a paper airplane activity and turned it into a memorable and interactive experience that wowed the audience. She even went above and beyond by offering to stay after her speech for meet-and-greets, which our attendees absolutely loved. We’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from our guests about her authenticity, relatability, and ability to inspire. Nicole Malachowski exceeded all expectations, and we couldn't recommend her highly enough as a keynote speaker.”

Marketing Manager of Events Edina Realty

“…outstanding! Her program, "Pushing the Envelope," truly resonated with our staff. Nicole skillfully shared her real-life military experiences, translating them into relatable lessons that captivated our audience. Her ability to connect with us on such a profound level made for an engaging and immersive experience. It was more than just a presentation; it was an excellent opportunity for growth and inspiration. We are incredibly grateful for the insights she provided.”

Chief of Staff Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC)

“Nicole was INCREDIBLE! I would highly recommend her to another client, and I seriously hope I find the opportunity to work with her again. She was spot on in her messaging and incorporating our meeting theme into her talk track. Our attendees left SO excited about 2025 after hearing her keynote. Thank you again for the amazing recommendation!”

Director of Corporate Events Alight Solutions

“You were amazing today! Thank you for motivating me and the entire team. There was such a buzz around your discussion all day today! I cannot thank you enough. I know we are already looking for ways to plug you into other sessions in the firm in the US and globally!”

Partner US Deal Advisory and Strategy Leaders at KPMG

“Having Nicole at our event was a remarkable experience. She was exceptionally well-prepared and delivered her presentation with confidence and clarity. Her insights were not only thought-provoking but also highly relevant to our audience. It was evident that she had put in a great deal of effort to tailoring her talk specifically for our event. Without a doubt, Nicole is one of the best speakers we have had the pleasure of hosting and I highly recommend her for your future event.”

Enterprise Production Consultant Field Meetings at Northwestern Mutual

“Nicole was the talk of the event. She is truly an extraordinarily accomplished person and her narrative and personal experience really resonated. And incredibly gracious on top of that.”

CEO Convera USA

“Nicole recently spoke to a group of 400+ leaders and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. She masterfully tailored her speech to our specific needs and seamlessly wove together various stories across multiple themes. This not only kept the audience engaged but also made the key messages incredibly relatable and memorable. It is evident that Nicole is deeply committed to every speech she delivers, striving to ensure she makes a significant impact and perfectly hits the mark, which she successfully achieved. She brings so much energy, wisdom, and passion! Can't thank Nicole enough and hope to work with her again in the future!”

Senior Director Chief of Staff, US Deal Advisory & Strategy at KPMG

"Nicole's messages about achieving greatness as a team, showing gratitude, and being trustworthy all the time were truly inspiring and delivered with the utmost professionalism and energy. I've had countless conversations since her presentation where people referred to “honoring the wingman and wing woman contracts” and openly asked for help where needed. Nicole's impact was clear and will be lasting. What impressed me most was how Nicole not only embraced what we shared with her during the briefings but also went above and beyond by doing her own research. Nicole created meaningful connections that resonated deeply with our community, and it truly made a difference."

Chief Marketing Officer SUSE LLC

“Col. Nicole Malachowski delivered one of the most impactful keynotes at Cisco Live’s IT Leadership program this year. From the outset, she approached our collaboration with professionalism, curiosity, and a deep respect for our audience. She thoughtfully integrated Cisco’s strategic messaging into her content, creating a keynote that was both aligned and deeply resonant. On stage, she brought a commanding presence balanced by humility and authenticity. She fielded difficult, unscripted questions from the audience with confidence and credibility, earning the respect and admiration of even our most seasoned leaders and leaving a lasting impression on every attendee in the room. Her session quickly emerged as the top-rated of the program and continues to spark reflection and conversation across our leadership community and attendees. Her and her team were a true pleasure to work with at every stage of the process, and we look forward to bringing her on again when the opportunity next presents itself. Her leadership message is one that every team, across all sectors needs to hear.”

Senior Strategist Sparks (Event Producer)

“[Nicole] was fantastic and kept the audience very engaged with her strong message.”

Regional Director Special Events at Confidential Healthcare Company

“Nicole is inspiring, down to earth, relatable, and delivered with such authenticity. She was not only a powerful speaker but also an absolute pleasure to work with: kind, approachable, and genuinely invested in connecting with our audience. If you are looking for a keynote who can motivate, challenge, and truly resonate with a crowd, I would highly recommend Nicole. She left a lasting impression!”

CEO Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, Inc. (IIANC)

“If you’ve never heard Nicole Malachowski speak, let me tell you — it is something to behold. She is the first woman Thunderbird pilot, a combat veteran, a leader who’s broken barriers and redefined what resilience looks like. Hearing her story, at our recent Leadership Conference — the risks she took, the setbacks she endured, the strength she showed when life turned unexpected — it grounded me again in what matters most: trust, relationships, humanity…I’m so grateful for the opportunity to hear Nicole, to learn from her life and leadership, and to be reminded that amazing people — people with incredible stories, courage, and heart — are all around us.”

Director of Global Talent Culture & Belonging, La-Z-Boy

“Nicole’s keynote was a highlight of our event. Her inspirational story was incredibly moving and resonated with our audience of healthcare executives. She received a standing ovation and rave reviews from our attendees. Nicole was fantastic to work with and I highly recommend her as a motivational speaker.”

Chief Growth Officer Claritev

“I think Nicole is the most impressive person I have heard speak in my professional career so far, and I have already started to use her talking points/scripts in my day-to-day.”

Sr. Director Data Anyalytics, Claritev

“Nicole was fantastic. She really resonated with our team and everyone was on the edge of their seats. I had so many come up to me afterward talking about how great she was.”

Village Caregiving

We have been fortunate to have over 30 speakers over the few years present at our sales conference. Based on survey results, your session was the highest ranked ever! You have a great message and more significantly, an incredible way to connect with the audience. I personally loved the way you weaved in our values and our message with your message of Pushing the Envelope.

CEO Extra Storage Space

Everyone…I mean everyone…left raving about your message. As you can imagine being in healthcare as executive, I hear a lot of people speak. You are an exceptional speaker and have an incredible message to share with anyone that’s looking at ways to be motivated to improve themselves. So yes, count me in as a card holding member of your fan club

Chairman National Association of Specialty Pharmacy

Keynotes

Keynote by speaker Nicole Malachowski:

Harnessing Headwinds - Successfully navigating Change & Adversity

Leaders across every industry and experience level share one thing in common: To be successful they need to effectively navigate failure, organizational change, and the unknown. Like headwinds to a pilot, these perceived barriers can force you to change direction, cost you momentum, and even take away options. These headwinds can feel confusing, disorienting, and downright uncomfortable. In this talk, Nicole Malachowski uses the aviation-based idea of headwinds as a metaphor to show how with the right mindset, individuals and teams can learn to harness the energy of these headwinds in their advantage.

Nicole inspires individuals and organizations and bolsters their ability to:

Overcome personal and professional failures.

Effectively navigate organizational and cultural change.

Endure the discomfort of the unknown.

Increase resilience, reinvention, regroup, and adaptability.

Have courage to rise above self-doubt and cultural paradigms.

Support and mentor others on the team.

Request a quote

Keynote by speaker Nicole Malachowski:

Pushing the envelope - Being the best when it counts.

To be successful, leaders from every industry and experience level need to effectively navigate moments of self-doubt, master the role of a trustworthy team player, and embrace moments of personal and professional vulnerability. Using the idea of an aircraft performance envelope as a metaphor, this elite fighter pilot and military leader will share inspiring personal stories and practical tools to ignite individuals and teams to reach beyond commonly-assumed limitations to achieve their maximum capabilities and impact.

Nicole Malachowski’s presentation will bolster the ability of individuals and teams to:

Overcome self-doubt that often inhibits personal and professional growth.

Model the selfless trust needed to be an effective teammate.

Practice vulnerability and transparency to build trust and galvanize teamwork.

Build accountability, dependability and reliability that drive performance.

Break down silos to unleash creativity and adaptability.

Request a quote

Keynote by speaker Nicole Malachowski:

Breaking Barriers - Conquering self-doubt and cultural paradigms.

Everyone faces barriers, both personal and professional, that may appear to place limits on what’s possible. When people pursue only what is expected, accept cultural norms that hold them back, and view barriers that appear unsurmountable, their personal and professional lives become limited—scripted. A powerful trailblazer herself, Nicole Malachowski reminds audiences to not let others draw their boundaries, and to break tradition with grace and purpose. She inspires people to see obstacles and challenges as opportunities to grow—a chance to reach new levels of personal and professional excellence.

Nicole delivers actionable insights for pursuing dreams, making choices, living an unscripted life and how to:

Define your own possibilities and overcome self-doubt.

Reevaluate traditions, paradigms, and overcome limitations.

Welcome challenges to the status quo.

Why having the courage to ask for help is key to, reaching your potential.

Acknowledge the work-life balance myth.

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