Hidden Gems: Meet Nicole Price of Lively Paradox

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Price

Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My Journey: From Engineer to Empathy Revolutionary
If you had asked me years ago if empathy was critical to leadership, I would have given you a logical, data-driven response that was slightly dismissive and full of academic jargon. I may have even sidestepped the idea entirely. My background is in engineering—I was trained to solve problems with precision, not feelings. Early in my career, I was known for being direct, results-driven, and, frankly, a bit ruthless when it came to decision-making. I believed in efficiency over emotion.

But life has a way of teaching us the lessons we most need to learn. A series of personal and professional experiences—including an unexpected DNA discovery that reshaped my understanding of identity—forced me to confront emotions I had previously suppressed and ignored. I jokingly say that there are two ways to learn empathy—pleasantly and slow or painfully and fast. I chose all the methods and learned firsthand that empathy isn’t weakness; it’s strategy. It’s a powerful tool that drives engagement, innovation, and, ultimately, results.

In 2016, I founded Lively Paradox, a leadership development firm, and wrote Spark the Heart: Engineering Empathy in Your Organization in 2022 to teach leaders how to leverage empathy—not as a soft skill, but as a business imperative. My work now focuses on helping organizations navigate change, improve performance, and create cultures where people actually want to work.

I often say I wasn’t born an empathy expert—I became one out of necessity. And that’s exactly why I believe that I teach it so effectively. My journey proves that anyone can develop empathy and use it to lead stronger teams, build deeper connections, and spark real change.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? Not even close. My journey has been shaped by three defining moments—each one forcing me to grow in ways I never expected.

The first came when my mother was killed by a drunk driver. The shock, the grief, the years-long murder trial—these were experiences that should have made me more emotionally aware. But at the time, I didn’t even have the language of feelings, so I did what I had always done: I suppressed them. I leaned into objectivity, thinking that if I could just analyze my way through, I’d be fine.

Then, I was fired from my executive-level job and then sued by my former boss. That experience tested my resolve but it also exposed the gaps in my leadership style. I had always prided myself on being logical, results-driven, and highly effective. But leadership isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about people. And people don’t make decisions based purely on logic. They make them based on how they feel. I had been ignoring a critical component of leadership: emotional intelligence. Understanding feelings–our own and those of others–improves our decision making because we are smarter.

But it was a DNA discovery in 2022 that completely upended my worldview. I found out that the man I had always known as my father was not my biological father. It was a moment that should have been emotional, but instead, my first instinct was to analyze it, rationalize it, control it. Except this time, objectivity wasn’t enough. I had finally encountered something that my mind couldn’t work me out of. I was forced to sit with emotions I had never allowed myself to process—rage, grief, confusion. I had to learn the language of feelings on an even deeper level. And in doing so, I realized that empathy isn’t about being soft—being empathetic is intellectually challenging. It is a hard skill.

Each of these moments could have broken me. Instead, they became my greatest teachers. They taught me that empathy isn’t just about understanding others—it’s about understanding yourself. And if you can’t navigate your own emotions, you can’t effectively lead anyone else.

As you know, we’re big fans of Lively Paradox. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lively Paradox: Engineering Leadership for High-Performing Teams

At Lively Paradox, we believe leaders don’t struggle because they lack knowledge—they struggle because they aren’t executing what they already know. That’s why our work is designed to move leaders from analysis paralysis to action.

Our trademarked consulting process ensures that organizations don’t waste six months trying to figure out what’s wrong. We cut through the noise by helping leaders:
Clarify goals
Stop arguing with current realities
Apply tactical empathy
Brainstorm options
Develop an executable way forward

Whether the challenge is role clarity, breaking through business bottlenecks, improving employee engagement, or responding to massive industry shifts, we help leaders quickly make decisions that drive results.

We specialize in engineering leadership through three key offerings:

1. Leadership Training: We teach leaders how to be both technically sound and strategically people-focused. Our training sessions are designed for managers and executives who need practical, engineering-minded solutions to workplace challenges. We cover everything from decision science and critical thinking to team motivation and performance optimization—helping leaders lead smarter, faster, and better.

2. Keynote Speaking: Sometimes, teams don’t need more training—they need a shift in mindset. My keynotes are designed to challenge conventional leadership thinking and motivate audiences to take action. Whether speaking to engineers, tech professionals, or senior executives, I bridge the gap between logic and leadership—helping people see how human behavior directly impacts operational efficiency and outcomes.

3. Consulting: Leadership challenges often show up as operational inefficiencies—missed deadlines, disengaged teams, stalled innovation. Our consulting process helps leaders cut through the complexity, identify roadblocks, and create an actionable way forward. We don’t waste time getting up to speed—our process moves leaders from uncertainty to execution, fast.

What Sets Us Apart?
We don’t just teach leadership—we engineer it. Our approach is grounded in problem-solving, operational efficiency, and decision science—helping leaders get better performance, stronger teams, and measurable results.

What I’m Most Proud of?
The impact. Watching technical experts become exceptional leaders—not because they suddenly became more charismatic, but because they learned how to navigate human systems just as well as they navigate technical ones. And most of all, proving that leadership is not just about authority—it’s about execution, decision-making, and clarity.

If you need leadership training that actually works, a keynote that shifts mindsets, or consulting that drives real business results, Lively Paradox is here to help.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
When it comes to finding a mentor and networking, I’ve learned a few things along the way that have really worked for me.

First, be clear about what you want. Early on, I knew I wanted to be in HR and develop great leaders, so I told people about it. That clarity helped me attract the right opportunities, like when an HR director encouraged me to apply for a position I hadn’t even considered yet. If people don’t know what you want, they can’t help you get there.

Second, leverage what makes you stand out. I’ve always had a talent for teaching and coaching, even before I realized it myself. Speaking engagements and leadership roles gave me the chance to showcase that skill, and that’s what opened doors for me. People are drawn to those who are excellent at what they do, so lean into your strengths.

I’ve also learned that opportunities don’t always come in the package you expect. I started as an engineering recruiter before transitioning into leadership training. That role gave me hands-on experience in hiring, team dynamics, and leadership—everything I needed to get where I actually wanted to be. Sometimes, the job before the job is the key to your success.

Another thing that has worked well for me is networking by offering value. I don’t just reach out to people when I need something—I build relationships by being someone others can rely on. If you focus on solving problems, being resourceful, and genuinely supporting people, you won’t have to chase down mentors. They’ll naturally want to help you because they see your potential.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to pivot. My background is in engineering, but my true passion is leadership development. It took me some time to fully embrace that shift, but once I did, everything started falling into place. Careers aren’t linear, and sometimes the best opportunities come when you’re willing to adapt.

If I could sum it up, I’d say: be clear about your goals, lead with your strengths, take unexpected opportunities seriously, give more than you take, and be willing to evolve. That’s how I’ve built my network and found incredible mentors along the way.

Pricing:

• Books from $13.74 each
• Keynotes from $14,995
• Training from $9,995
• Coaching and Consulting $874/ hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drnicoleprice.com
• Instagram: @drnicoleprice
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoledeniseprice/
• Twitter: @drnicoleprice
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrNicoleDPrice