Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Louis.
Hi Nicole, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story really started long before I ever became an entrepreneur. I became a mother at 13 years old, and shortly afterward, I entered the juvenile justice system after being charged with attempted murder and willful injury for defending myself during an attack. At an age when most young people were simply trying to figure out who they were, I was learning how decisions, environments, relationships, and habits could completely change the direction of your life.
Ironically, my involvement with the juvenile justice system also connected me with structure, resources, and people who helped me see that my circumstances did not have to determine my future. I graduated from high school, continued my education, and eventually turned many of the lessons I learned through my own experiences into a passion for helping others.
Over the years, I built a career in youth prevention and intervention, program development, coaching, speaking, and entrepreneurship. I founded ILoveMe Enterprises LLC and later developed Habits of a Queen, a behavior modification program that uses etiquette and social skills development to help young people understand how everyday habits and decisions influence their long-term outcomes.
What started as my personal journey of survival and growth has evolved into work that has allowed me to serve youth, women, parents, organizations, and communities, as well as speak nationally and internationally.
Today, I’m not trying to erase the difficult parts of my story. I use them. They allow me to connect with young people who may not yet be able to see beyond their current circumstances.
Everything I do comes back to one belief: your past may explain where you are, but it does not have to determine where you are going. When you learn differently, choose differently, and develop different habits, you can create an entirely different future.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. My journey has had several very different chapters, and some years—and some days—have been much harder than others.
My struggles began early. I became a mother at 13 and entered the juvenile justice system shortly afterward. Those experiences forced me to grow up quickly, but they also introduced me to structure and resources that helped me continue moving forward. I eventually graduated from high school and began trying to build a life for myself and my family.
But making it through my teenage years didn’t mean that all of my struggles were behind me.
As I moved into adulthood and became a mother of three, there was a period when everything I was trying to hold together seemed to collapse. I struggled to care for my children while trying to create a better life. Eventually, my children were placed in state care, and I experienced homelessness. I was trying to prove to the world—and to myself—that I was going to make it no matter what anyone thought of me.
That became one of the darkest seasons of my adult life. I felt alone, questioned my worth, and even questioned whether the world would be better without me. I had lost sight of where I was going and, in many ways, who I was.
Then another chapter began.
I met the man who would later become my husband. Through our relationship, I experienced the safety and support that gave me room to grow, love, and allow myself to be loved. With his support—and my own willingness to heal and do the work—I began changing the habits, decisions, and patterns that had contributed to the life I no longer wanted.
My children eventually came home, and I continued rebuilding my life.
That rebuilding process did not happen overnight. Even as I grew personally and professionally, there were still moments when I had to pause, regroup, heal, and find my direction again. There were times I questioned whether my past made me unworthy of helping others. Eventually, I realized that my experiences were not something I had to hide from—they were part of what equipped me to reach people who may be facing their own difficult chapters.
Today, I see my journey like a roller coaster. You cannot predict every turn, dip, climb, or unexpected drop. You can prepare yourself, hold on, learn from each part of the journey, and keep moving forward.
I’ve learned that success isn’t about having a perfectly smooth road. Sometimes success is simply refusing to get off the ride—and eventually learning to appreciate everything the journey taught you along the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of Iloveme Enterprises LLC & Habits of a Queen . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Habits of a Queen is not your traditional etiquette program. We specialize in behavior modification through etiquette and social skills development, helping young people understand how their everyday decisions, habits, communication, relationships, and self-perception can influence their long-term outcomes.
Through ILoveMe Enterprises LLC, I developed Habits of a Queen to provide youth with something I needed when I was younger: not simply someone telling me what to do differently, but someone helping me understand why different choices could create a different future.
Our programming goes beyond teaching table manners, posture, or how to dress appropriately. Those skills have value, but we use etiquette as a practical vehicle for teaching deeper concepts such as self-awareness, decision-making, emotional regulation, communication, conflict resolution, healthy boundaries, first impressions, stress management, money mindset, and goal setting.
What sets us apart is our approach. We combine practical application with relatable real-life experiences, trauma-informed practices, motivational interviewing, reflection, and skill development. We want students to understand that behavior modification isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about recognizing patterns that may no longer serve you, understanding their consequences, and developing healthier habits that move you toward the life you want.
We also recognize that lasting change doesn’t happen in isolation. That’s why our vision extends beyond the student to include parents, caregivers, families, community organizations, schools, residential programs, juvenile justice partners, and other professionals who support young people.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that Habits of a Queen has grown from an idea into a developing ecosystem of youth programming, parenting education, family engagement, professional training, and organizational partnerships. We are also expanding our model through online learning and a Train-the-Trainer approach so organizations can equip their own staff to reinforce these principles consistently.
Ultimately, I want readers to understand that Habits of a Queen isn’t really about teaching girls how to be “proper.” It’s about helping them recognize their power to choose.
Your past decisions, habits, experiences, and even other people’s perceptions of you do not have to define your future. When you understand the connection between your habits, your decisions, and your outcomes, you gain the ability to intentionally change the direction of your life.
That’s what Habits of a Queen represents: changing habits, changing outcomes, and creating new possibilities.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I don’t believe my success can be attributed to just one quality. It has been a combination of humility, transparency, compassion, a desire to continue learning, and resilience.
Humility has taught me that I don’t have all the answers. No matter how much experience I gain or how far I go, there is always something I can learn from someone else. I’m willing to listen, receive feedback, acknowledge when something isn’t working, and make changes when necessary.
Transparency has allowed me to use my story authentically. I don’t pretend that I arrived where I am today without mistakes, struggles, or difficult seasons. Being willing to share those experiences has helped me connect with people in a way that credentials alone never could.
Compassion reminds me to look beyond a person’s behavior and ask, “What happened? What is this person experiencing, and what might they need?” That perspective is especially important in my work with young people and families.
My desire to learn keeps me growing. I am constantly looking for ways to strengthen myself, improve our programs, expand my knowledge, and become more effective in the work I’ve been called to do.
But resilience is probably the thread connecting all of them.
I’ve learned that resilience isn’t simply about being strong or never falling apart. Sometimes resilience means knowing when to pause. Sometimes it means asking for help, changing direction, admitting you were wrong, healing, starting over, or simply deciding to try again tomorrow.
My success hasn’t come from never failing. It has come from remaining humble enough to learn from failure, transparent enough to acknowledge it, compassionate enough to give myself and others grace, curious enough to keep learning, and resilient enough to keep going.
Pricing:
- Habits of a Queen Program starting at $500
- Parent Workshops starting at $100
- Organizational & Agency Programs – custom pricing
- Professional / Train-the-Trainer Training – custom pricing
- Speaking & Workshops- based on event
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Nicolelouis.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nlouisauthor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DbQv9emCy/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelouisauthor
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@habitsofaqueen
- Other: https://Habitsofaqueen.com
