Nicole Ridley is a collaborative and transformational thought leader who serves as the Head of Operations for the Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE). She is a high-performing, strategic thinker with more than 15 years of professional and leadership experience in Finance, Investments, Commercial Real Estate, Strategic Relationship Management, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. In her current role, Nicole drives the development and implementation of strategies, initiatives, and programs for the FARE.
Previously, Nicole held positions of increasing responsibility with Nationwide, one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Her most recent position was Chief of Staff for the Nationwide Investment Management Group, where she collaborated with executive team members to provide guidance and expertise in the key areas of planning, operations, and strategic positioning for the business unit managing $84 billion in customer assets and $200 million in sales.
Nicole was also a management associate in the Nationwide Financial Services Leadership Rotation Program, with nine-month assignments in various functional areas of expertise, including Annuities, Retirement Plans, Life Insurance, and Mutual Funds.
She held various leadership positions, including President, for an Associate Resource Group called AWARE, African American Women Active & Ready to Exceed, an organization that promotes cultural awareness within Nationwide and its community to cultivate authentic leadership and leverage meaningful programs for business success.
Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from The Ohio State University, Max M. Fisher College of Business, and a master’s in business administration from Ohio Dominican University.
Nicole is committed to community service and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated Twin Rivers (OH) Chapter, and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. She enjoys quality time with her husband and their two children.
