About the Course

Leading by Design, powered by Nichole Birmingham Coaching, is an 8-week group coaching program for first-time people leaders who care more about their work than just clocking hours and making a paycheck. They want a solid foundation for leading authentically and with respect for the impact they have on their team, colleagues, and company - now, and as their career progresses. This won’t be a typical “watch a training video and forget it tomorrow” program. Nichole and your cohort members support your growth as you progress together through the topics and apply your new skills in the real world. Guidance provided throughout encourages you to explore your leadership identity freely, adopt a growth mindset, and design your own path to success. Limited seats. One founding cohort. Starts October 1, 2026.

You're not alone...

Here's what nobody tells you about becoming a manager: The skills that got you promoted are not the skills the new job needs. You went from being the person who did great work to the person responsible for other people's great work. So, you do what most new managers do: you improvise. You copy a boss you previously had (for better or worse). You avoid the hard conversations. You take the work back because it's faster to do it yourself. You lie awake replaying that thing you said in the team meeting wondering when you will ever say it "right". That's not a character flaw. It's not wrong, either. But...  Operating that way every day can lead to self-doubt, spiraling thoughts, and impact those around you. Trying to survive each new situation like you're dodging landmines, wiping the sweat off your brow when you made it through in one piece... that's incredibly draining. No wonder you feel like you don't have time or energy for yourself! Almost every first-time manager runs on survival mode, because no one showed them another way. If this feels familiar, it's because it's nearly universal. And it's not your fault: • Roughly 6 in 10 new managers get no training before their first day leading a team. • Managers now report more daily stress than the people they lead. • Difficult conversations are consistently named the hardest part of the job. You were handed a team and expected to just know how to manage and lead it!

It doesn't have to be a guessing game.

Great leadership isn't about having all the answers all the time or becoming a more perfect person. It's about increasing mindful awareness and choosing intentional actions: understanding how you show up in the moment, the energy you bring into every interaction, and the power of your choices. And, having supportive advocates to lean on along the way. In Leading by Design, you'll collaborate within a small, supportive cohort, learn the core skills of leading a team, and get coached through the real situations you're facing right now, in real time. You'll leave with more than tactics. You'll leave with a clear sense of the kind of leader you want to be, and the confidence to actually show up that way on a Monday morning. And, as a Founding member, you'll get to shape the experience for future cohorts!

Who is Leading by Design for?

The Newbie

You've recently stepped into your first management role, or you're about to, and received no training or support. Or you’re finding it difficult to apply the training you've received.

The Go-To

You're great at the work your team is responsible for (being in the weeds) but unsure how to operate at the next level… and don’t want to be or appear unsure.

The Wishful Thinker

You catch yourself avoiding giving feedback, over-functioning, or doing it all yourself and wishing there was a different solution. You want to lead in a way that feels authentic, not performative, and builds trust and relationships. But how??

What You Get as a Founding Member:

• 8 weekly Zoom sessions, each 1.5 hours (Thursdays from 10/1/2026 through 11/19/2026, 6:30-8pm ET) • Small peer group (6 cohort members max) engaging in a variety of discussions & activities, facilitated by an ICF-certified leadership and career coach • Guided topics each week, from self-leadership and confidence to key team-leading skills such as communication, delegation, and influence • Community hub and workbooks for support between sessions • Energy Leadership Index assessment and personal debrief (an additional, private, 1-hour session with Nichole - a $299 value!) • Lowest-ever price of $597! Price will increase for future cohorts.

What makes Leading by Design different?

Most new-manager training hands you a stack of videos to watch alone and hopes something sticks. (If you're even given videos!)

It starts on the inside. You'll take the Energy Leadership Index assessment (ELI), a research-backed attitudinal assessment (proprietary to iPEC). Unlike a personality test that puts you in a box, it shows you how you're currently showing up as a leader, and how your energy shifts under pressure... which is exactly when leadership gets hard.  From there, we grow outward: leading yourself, then your team, then your peers and up. Inside --> out.

It's experiential, not passive. You won't just learn ideas and skills; you'll practice them.  Real reflection, role-play, group activities, and actual actions you take in the real world between sessions and bring back to the room.  That's what turns "I know I should" into "I did - and now I can handle anything."

It's personalized and small. A private community, your own one-on-one ELI debrief with me, and reflections tailored to your specific work situations.  It's a safe place to try, stumble, and grow that most new managers never get!

Sounds great! But what will I really get at the end of 8 weeks?

• Prove your credibility to others (and, most importantly, yourself) with confidence, because you now have the skills and experience to back it up.   • A documented foundation to lean on when that "Am I doing this right?" voice creeps in.  • Address team challenges with mindful urgency and respect and drive solution-based outcomes. (No more band-aid fixes, wherever possible!)   • Have tools to become calmer, more flexible and firm, and less reactive. • Measurable, increased confidence in your ability to lead.   • Co-create a community of peers who support each other's wellbeing and success, during the cohort and beyond!

About Nichole

I know what it's like to look like a successful leader on the outside, while feeling completely lost and anxious on the inside. I spent years as a high-performing quality management professional in the corporate world: checking the boxes, hitting the goals, empowering my team and colleagues, and... constantly worried I was doing it all "wrong". After being coached, my confidence as a leader grew and anxiety shifted into a calm, balanced state. I learned to stop leading (and living) by default and start designing who I wanted to be and how I wanted to impact others. Knowledge learned finally had a pathway to become applicable to my specific situations. That shift changed everything, and it's the work I now GET to do with my clients. As an iPEC-certified, ICF-credentialed (ACC) coach, I blend real corporate leadership experience with powerful tools like the Energy Leadership Index to help new leaders lead with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Becoming the leader you want to be and that your team needs is not about being perfect: it's about showing up fully, intentionally, and with a greater purpose. I'd love to help you do exactly that in your first management role!

What people are saying about working with Nichole

Real clients, real impact!

”
Working with Nichole has honestly been life-changing for me. When I started, I felt really stuck- like I couldn’t figure out what direction to go or how to move forward. Through every session, she helped me find clarity and create a path that actually made sense for me. What I love most is how she’s always there -even just a quick phone check-in when we couldn’t meet meant so much. I’ve learned SO much about myself and built confidence in ways I never thought possible. Looking back, I can truly say I feel more grounded and capable than ever. If you’re thinking about working with her, I can’t recommend it enough - it’s something really special!
H.M.

1:1 Client

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Working with Nichole was an incredibly powerful experience. She was deeply tuned in, empathetic, and always came prepared with exactly what I needed—even before I knew I needed it. Her regular check-ins made me feel consistently supported and never alone in the process. Through our work together, I was able to break through mental blocks that had been holding me back and experience real growth—personally and professionally.
R.G.

1:1 Client

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I've gained greater organization, support, confidence, and a clearer path to follow for my business, all by having her help me tune in to my own needs and special skills. I have reachable goals now and have actually completed goals and tasks where i struggled to complete projects in the past. Her perspective helps me look at some things differently which allows me to see more possibilities where I felt stuck before.
T.B.

1:1 Client

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I came away with clear strategies I could apply immediately, and I already notice a difference in how I approach my day and my relationships. I highly recommend Nichole to anyone who is looking for guidance, accountability, and real tools to improve their life.
A.H.

1:1 Client

FAQs

I was just promoted and I'm feeling overwhelmed. Do I really have time and energy for this?  Eight 90-minute sessions over eight weeks sounds like a lot. Guess what? The whole point is to equip you with information, tools, experience, and support that lower your stress, increase your confidence, and create space in your workday (and in all those other times when you would rather be relaxing or having fun instead of overthinking about work). It's an investment in your improved wellbeing, which creates a ripple effect for your coworkers and impacts your life beyond the program. Only you can be the judge as to whether this impact is worth sacrificing some phone scrolling time!  What if I'm not sure I'm even a "real" people leader/manager/supervisor yet? If you're responsible for anyone else's work and giving them feedback, even for one person, this is for you. The earlier you build these skills and develop your self-awareness, self-trust, and resilience the easier the whole road ahead becomes. What's the Energy Leadership Index assessment (ELI), and do I have to do anything before we start?  The ELI is an online assessment you'll complete before we begin Week 1; it takes about 20–30 minutes. Nichole is a Certified Master Practitioner of the ELI, which is a science-backed attitudinal assessment proprietary to the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). Then you'll schedule a personal one-on-one debrief with Nichole to walk through your results. In our first group session, only the cohort's overall picture will be shared; your individual results stay private. Still want more info? Check it out here: https://nicholebirmingham.com/energy-leadership-index You will receive access to a workbook in advance of each live cohort session, including Week 1. While not mandatory, completing workbook exercises, which are similar to guided journaling prompts, helps you to be a prepared and active participant in the live sessions. Your cohort will appreciate it, and so will the version of you at the end of the program!   What if I miss a session?  Life happens. Weekly Zoom sessions are recorded, and you'll always have the workbooks, community hub, and Nichole's support between meetings to catch up. It is HIGHLY recommended to attend all 8 weekly cohort sessions live due to the interactive, community-building nature of the program. You get out of it what you put into it!