After a meaningful pause, Nicole Cruz is back — and she's brought her whole story with her. In this reintroduction episode, Nicole shares the arc that led her from a decade in corporate America to building a coaching practice rooted in cultural wisdom, lived experience, and one defining question: what does it actually mean to be fully alive?

If you've ever arrived at the destination you worked your whole life toward — and felt something was still missing — this episode is for you.

• Why Nicole stepped away from the podcast (hint: she became a mom 🍼)

• Growing up as the daughter of Filipino immigrants and the unspoken "script" that came with it

• Over 10 years in corporate — sales, marketing, and CSR at a major healthcare company — and what it cost her to succeed there

• The moment of clarity that made staying impossible

• Leaving her six-figure career, traveling the world for a year, and what she found on the other side

• How she discovered coaching — and why it felt like coming home

• Why she specifically serves women of color and first and second-generation leaders

• The role of culture, conditioning, and white supremacy in the work she does with clients

• How becoming a mother has deepened the meaning of this work

"Once you know, and once you feel, and once you see it — you can't unsee it. You can't unfeel it. You can't unknow it."

"It was the first time in my life I really experienced pure joy, euphoria. This is what living feels like. This is what it feels like to be fully alive."

"The script didn't include — okay, what do you do once you get there? When there doesn't feel the way you thought it would."

"The soft skills I thought weren't as valuable were actually the ones that really lend themselves to this work."

"This work is contributing to the world I want my daughter to grow up in."

Nicole Cruz is a leadership and life coach, TEDx speaker, and mama. She works with women of color and first and second-generation leaders who have mastered achievement but are missing fulfillment. With nearly eight years of experience in culturally-informed coaching, Nicole helps her clients get radically honest about what they want now — and reorient their lives around that vision.

• Instagram: @nicolecruzcoaching

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolecruzmba/

• Email: nicole@nicolecruzcoaching.com

• Explore 1:1 coaching: DM Nicole on Instagram or send her an email

If you heard yourself somewhere in Nicole's story — in the immigrant household, in being the only person of color in the room, in arriving and still feeling like something's missing — you're in the right place.

And if you're sitting with a voice asking is this it? is there more? — that voice is worth listening to.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Filipina entrepreneur Kristelle Siarza joins Nicole to talk about building what doesn't exist yet—first with Siarza, a full-service marketing/PR/video agency, and then with the Asian Business Collaborative (ABC), a nonprofit offering, education, language access, and advocacy for Asian-owned businesses.

They dig into:

• Outcomes > outputs: moving beyond vanity metrics to community trust and lasting impact

• Culture as strategy: letting family, fun, and belonging guide clients, campaigns, and team norms

• Support systems: why nobody truly does it alone (and how to build your circle)

• Permission to be multifaceted: owner, mom, advocate…and hot-air-balloon student pilot
  
  

You'll learn: how to choose values-aligned work, design case studies that show change (not just numbers), and use "aliveness" as a decision filter.

If this episode helped you rethink metrics or leadership, share it with a friend—and join Nicole's list for more culturally-informed tools for first & second gen leaders.

Links:
Siarza — https://www.siarza.com/
Asian Business Collaborative — https://asianpibc.org/
Connect with Kristelle — https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristellesiarza/
Connect with Nicole — https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolecruzmba/

In this heartfelt episode, Nicole Cruz shares her personal journey of pregnancy, including the challenges and emotions she faced after experiencing a pregnancy loss. She discusses the importance of support, the decision to become a mother, and how she is navigating the changes in her life and career as she prepares for motherhood. She reflects on what it means to say a full "yes" to motherhood—not just to the joy, but also to the loss of freedom, the identity shift, and the unknowns ahead.

You'll also hear:

• How a kind ultrasound tech changed her mindset with one powerful sentence

• The emotional toll of navigating pregnancy after loss

• The decision to move back to the Bay Area to be near family

• How this new season is reshaping her business and creative work
  
  

Nicole also shares a sneak peek: she'll be making previously client-only workshops and resources available to the public before going on maternity leave.

If you're navigating your own conception or identity journey, Nicole wants to connect with you! DM her on IG @nicolecruzcoaching or via email at nicole@nicolecruzcoaching.com.

What happens when you slide into someone's DMs—and it changes your life?

In this episode of First to Thrive, Nicole reconnects with former coaching client and now celebrated storyteller Olyvia Chac-Nguyen, co-writer of the powerful short film Yellow Balloon. What began as a copywriting opportunity turned into a deeply personal screenwriting project that explores intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and what it means to be seen—without translation.

Together, they unpack:

• The unexpected journey from brand copywriter to Cannes-recognized screenwriter

• How Yellow Balloon centers Vietnamese language, community, and nuance

• The weight and risk of visibility for immigrant communities

• Why Southeast Asian stories deserve more space—and how Olyvia's team made it happen

• Her "Jordan Peele era" and using storytelling as a form of healing and resistance
  
  

This conversation is a powerful reminder that our stories matter—even if we've never seen them told before.

🔗 Follow Yellow Balloon and Olyvia:
IG: @yellowballoonfilm

Interested in a private screening or supporting the film? Reach out through Instagram or check the show notes for details.

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of First to Thrive, Nicole Cruz sits down with John McCartney, APR — a seasoned PR pro, founder of JMAC PR, and a proud Filipino American leader paving the way for the next generation of publicists.

John shares his unconventional path from aspiring engineer to successful public relations executive, reflecting on how storytelling, cultural pride, and a willingness to pivot shaped his career. Together, Nicole and John explore how PR is more than media coverage — it's about reclaiming narratives, building trust, and showing up with authenticity.

They also dive into the importance of AANHPI representation in media and leadership, what it means to mentor when you didn't have one, and why choosing a joyful path — even if it's unconventional — is not just valid, but powerful.

Whether you're curious about PR, navigating your own nonlinear career, or simply need a reminder that your joy and culture are assets, this episode is for you.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• How John's love of storytelling led him to PR

• What it means to change career paths without shame

• How representation in PR can prevent tone-deaf narratives and create deeper impact

• Advice for anyone exploring an unconventional career path
  
  

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about JMAC PR

• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Los Angeles chapter: https://prsala.org/
  
  

Let's Stay Connected:
If John's story resonated with you, especially as someone navigating identity, career shifts, and representation, check out Nicole's 1:1 coaching program Align, created for high-achieving women ready to center themselves in how they live and lead. Learn more here → https://nicolecruzcoaching.com/privatecoaching

In this heartfelt episode of First to Thrive, I'm joined by PR powerhouse and proud Filipina immigrant Ely Anne Vedar, founder of the Ely Agency. We talk about her journey from navigating cultural whiplash as a four-year-old immigrant to building a career amplifying underrepresented voices in the PR world.

Ely opens up about the early loss of language and identity, the pressures of assimilation, and the conscious decision to stop hiding. We dive into how embracing her full self—from her name to her natural curls—has not only changed how she moves through the world but also how she supports others in owning their stories.

This is a powerful conversation for anyone who's ever felt like they had to hide parts of themselves just to belong.

What We Talk About:

• 🎤 How Ely accidentally found her way into PR—and made it her calling

• 🧳 Her early experience immigrating from the Philippines at 4 years old

• 🫢 The impact of being told to stop speaking Tagalog

• 💫 What it means to follow the "70% aligned" rule in life and business

• 👁️‍🗨️ How reclaiming identity shows up in everyday decisions—like embracing her curly hair

• 📣 The power of visibility for underrepresented voices

• 🔁 What inspired her to break generational cycles of hiding

• 🧠 Why authenticity isn't just personal—it's strategic in business
  
  

Guest Links:

Follow Ely and learn more about her work:
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ely.vedar/ 💼 LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/elyannevedar
🌐 Learn more about Ely Agency: elyagency.com

Like this episode?

Leave a review, share it with a friend, and tag us on Instagram @nicolecruzcoaching 🙌🏽

Connect with Nicole:
🔹Apply for private coaching: nicolecruzcoaching.com/privatecoaching
🔹 Stay connected: Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicolecruzcoaching
🎙️ Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite platform. Your support helps amplify this work!

In this episode, Nicole Cruz sits down with Vietnamese American author Tiffany Trieu to talk about her book Inner Child and the healing power of reconnecting with your younger self. Tiffany shares how growing up as the eldest daughter in a refugee household shaped her, how inner child work helped her soften and come home to herself, and what it was like to write and publish her book in just one month.

They explore how play, cultural memory, and language can be tools for healing—especially for first and second-generation communities.

Highlights include:

• What the inner child actually is

• How to start connecting with yours

• Writing a book with imposter syndrome

• Why joy and play matter for our healing

Resources & Links:

🔹Purchase Inner Child by Tiffany Trieu: https://itstiffanytrieu.bigcartel.com/

Connect with Nicole:

🔹Apply for private coaching: nicolecruzcoaching.com/privatecoaching
🔹 Stay connected: Follow Nicole on Instagram @cicolecruzcoaching
🎙️ Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite platform. Your support helps amplify this work!

Feeling stuck, uncertain, or like you're constantly making choices that aren't truly yours? In this episode of First to Thrive, Nicole Cruz introduces the RECLAIM framework, a step-by-step process designed to help first and second-generation individuals break free from external expectations and reclaim their wants, desires, and joy. If you've ever felt trapped by the "good girl" playbook—prioritizing stability, external validation, and others' comfort over your own dreams—this episode is for you.

Nicole shares personal insights, client stories, and actionable steps to shift from proving yourself to prioritizing yourself. By following the RECLAIM framework, you'll gain clarity on your values, rebuild trust in yourself, and start making aligned decisions that truly reflect who you are.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ Why high-achievers often feel stuck despite their success
✔️ The hidden impact of cultural and familial conditioning on decision-making
✔️ How to shift from external validation to internal fulfillment
✔️ The RECLAIM framework: A 7-step process to regain agency over your choices
✔️ A simple challenge to start reclaiming what you want this month
✔️ How private coaching with Nicole can support your journey

The RECLAIM Framework:
R - Recognize outdated expectations that no longer serve you
E - Examine cultural, familial, and professional pressures shaping your decisions
C - Clarify what success and fulfillment look like for you now
L - Learn to trust yourself again and make confident decisions
A - Align your actions with your values with less fear and guilt
I - Integrate all aspects of your identity so you feel whole
M - Maintain your shift and prevent slipping back into old patterns

Nicole's Challenge to You:
What is one small decision you can make this week that's purely based on what you want—not what's expected of you? Take that step and have your own back!

Resources & Links:
🔹 Apply for private coaching: nicolecruzcoaching.com/privatecoaching
🔹 Stay connected: Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicolecruzcoaching
🔹 Join the waitlist for Nicole's upcoming book on reclaiming agency (Coming Summer 2025!)

Connect with Nicole:

🌐 Website: nicolecruzcoaching.com
📩 Email: nicole@nicolecruzcoaching.com
🎙️ Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please rate and review the podcast on your favorite platform. Your support helps amplify this work!