From Military Service to City Hall: Nicole McClain's Journey - Creativity Connects Podcast Episode 3

About the Podcast

Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a Creative Collective podcast that goes beyond the brand and into the authentic journeys of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. Each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique path, what drives her, and where she’s headed next. This series illuminates the moments, motivations, and messy middles that shape women’s experiences as creators and business leaders in the creative economy. Sponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry

From Military Service to City Hall: Nicole McClain’s Journey of Women Veteran Entrepreneurs

Few stories capture the essence of authentic service, such as Nicole McClain’s journey, when we think about women veteran entrepreneurs. From military service to city hall, Nicole’s path demonstrates how early experiences with community care can evolve into powerful systemic change.

In our latest Creativity Connects conversation, host Mikki Wilson reunited with her longtime friend Nicole McClain to explore the authentic story behind her multifaceted leadership. Their friendship spans decades, providing a unique window into Nicole’s evolution from young community member to the influential leader she is today.

The Creative Soul Behind Community Service

Nicole describes herself as “a creative soul” who loves bringing ideas to life, but her creativity extends far beyond traditional artistic expression. “I’m not that kind of creative,” she explains, “but I’m creative with ideas.” This innovation-focused mindset has shaped her approach to women veteran entrepreneurs, driving her to see possibilities where others might see obstacles.

As an Army National Guard veteran who served two deployments to Iraq, Nicole’s perspective on service was initially shaped by military experience. However, upon returning from deployment, she discovered that her previous passion for cosmetology “just wasn’t feeding me anymore.” This pivotal moment led her toward education, public service, and, ultimately, entrepreneurial thinking about community impact.

Navigating Workplace Challenges with an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Our community continues learning about the complex experiences women veteran entrepreneurs face in traditional workplace settings. Nicole’s candid reflection on being repeatedly overlooked despite exceptional performance resonates with many women’s experiences: “As a black woman, things are hard… I wasn’t receiving the acknowledgement that I think I deserved.”

Rather than accepting these limitations, Nicole developed an “entrepreneurial mindset”—even when working as an employee. This shift toward advocating for herself and recognizing her value became foundational to her later leadership roles. “Maybe you need to be in the leadership position,” she realized, “because you’re not going to treat people [unfairly]… you’re going to be merit-based.”

Mikki’s observation about this mindset shift proves particularly valuable for our creative community: entrepreneurs who return to traditional employment often bring enhanced self-advocacy skills, refusing to minimize their worth or “not make waves” as previous generations were taught.

Legacy as Daily Motivation

What drives someone to serve on the city council, lead a nonprofit organization, coordinate education programs, and maintain multiple community commitments? For Nicole, the answer centers on legacy. “What wakes me up every morning is legacy, honestly,” she shares. Coming from a family where her single mother never completed high school, Nicole earned her master’s degree from Boston College and now works to ensure “constant progression” for future generations.

This commitment to women veteran entrepreneurs extends beyond personal advancement to community-wide impact. Through her role with the North Shore Juneteenth Association, her position on Lynn’s city council, and her work as career and education coordinator at Leap for Education, Nicole plants seeds whose full impact may never be visible to her directly.

“You stood in a classroom today… You don’t know any of those children,” she reflects, “but you never know… some of them might look back and say ‘Wow, this woman who was a leader in our city came and talked about this and it did spark something in me.'”

Building with What You Have

Throughout their conversation, Nicole and Mikki return to themes of resourcefulness and authentic action. Nicole references filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s approach to creating despite budget limitations: “She had what she had, which was this experience… making sure you have what you have, and you own that, and you do it.”

This philosophy drives Nicole’s approach to women veteran entrepreneurs—using available resources, connections, and opportunities to create meaningful change rather than waiting for perfect conditions. Her upcoming “Hats, Heels, Bow Ties and Blazers” tea demonstrates this inclusive, work-with-what-you-have approach, expanding beyond traditional formats to welcome all community members.

The Power of Connection and Cross-Promotion

As our conversation reveals, sustainable women veteran entrepreneurs thrive on mutual support and collaborative promotion. Nicole emphasizes the importance of “amplifying each other’s voices as much as we can because we’re doing some great things out here.”

This interconnected approach to community building reflects broader Creative Collective values—recognizing that individual success strengthens collective potential. When leaders like Nicole advocate for cross-promotion and reciprocal support, they model sustainable approaches to community impact that benefit everyone involved.

Moving Forward Together

Nicole’s story illuminates essential insights for our creative community: recognizing our value, the power of entrepreneurial thinking in all contexts, and the long-term impact of consistent, authentic service. Her journey from military service to city council demonstrates how women veteran entrepreneurs can evolve organically while staying rooted in genuine care for others.

As we continue exploring authentic entrepreneurial journeys, Nicole’s experience reminds us that leadership often begins with small acts of service and grows through persistent commitment to community uplift. Whether you’re considering a career pivot, developing your leadership voice, or seeking ways to create meaningful impact, Nicole’s approach offers valuable guidance: start with what you have, advocate for your worth, and never underestimate the power of planting positive seeds.

What resonates most from Nicole’s journey? How might you apply her entrepreneurial mindset insights and legacy-building insights to your creative work? We’d love to continue this conversation and learn from your experiences with community leadership and authentic service.

Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson: Councilor at Large, Nicole McClain of Lynn

Episode Description

Join host Mikki Wilson for an inspiring conversation with Nicole McClain, Army veteran, Lynn city councilor, and founder of the North Shore Juneteenth Association. From military service to becoming Lynn’s first Black woman elected as City Councilor-At-Large, Nicole’s journey demonstrates the power of entrepreneurial thinking, community service, and legacy-building.

Key Conversation Moments:

Nicole’s transition from military service to community leadership and public service

Developing an “entrepreneurial mindset” to advocate for herself in traditional workplace settings

How being “closest to the pain” motivates her community service and representation work

The importance of building with available resources rather than waiting for perfect conditions

Legacy as daily motivation: creating progression for future generations

About Nicole McClain: Nicole McClain is a multifaceted leader whose work spans education, community organizing, and public service. She serves as Career and Education Coordinator at Leap for Education, founded the North Shore Juneteenth Association in 2017, and became Lynn’s first Black woman elected as City Councilor-At-Large in 2023. Nicole holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from Boston College and served 11 years in the Army National Guard, with two deployments to Iraq.

Connect with Nicole:

Instagram: @CouncilwomanMcClain

Facebook: @N4Lynn

North Shore Juneteenth Association events and programming

Credits: Hosted by Mikki Wilson, founder of Dot Connector Consulting

Produced by Randyll Collum for Peabody TV

A Creative Collective podcast