July 29, 2026 - Women's Journal

Building More Than Businesses: Véronique Nicole’s Vision for Lasting Impact

Women's Journal Staff on July 29, 2026

By: William Brooks

Mining commodities. Human resources consulting. Premium Italian footwear. At first glance, they appear to have little in common. Yet together they form LaCentrale, the company entrepreneur Véronique Nicole founded in 2017.

Based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with services extending to Vancouver, Canada, LaCentrale operates across three distinct industries. Although each business division serves a different market, all were built around the same vision: creating commercial success while improving people’s lives and strengthening communities.

A Business Built Around People

Nicole’s vision for LaCentrale did not begin with mining, human resources, or luxury footwear. It began with an observation she made throughout her professional journey.

She recognized that many industries were operating without placing enough emphasis on the people behind the work. While organizations often focused on processes, production, and profitability, she believed businesses could become a force for improving the lives of everyone they touch, from employees and clients to the communities they serve.

“Our main goal is to transform traditional industries into catalysts for social change and human well-being,” she explains. Whether serving clients, creating employment opportunities, or investing in local communities, each part of LaCentrale is designed to create value that extends beyond the services it provides.

One Philosophy, Three Business Pillars

Rather than focusing on a single industry, Nicole expanded LaCentrale into three distinct business divisions, each serving a different market while advancing the company’s broader mission. Although each division operates independently, Nicole sees them as different expressions of the same philosophy.

The first pillar focuses on sourcing mining inputs and commodities through corporate partners established in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The second provides specialized human resources consulting, including fit-and-proper assessments designed to evaluate the integrity and suitability of leadership teams and employees.

The third is a premium footwear collection crafted in Italy, created not simply as a fashion brand, but as a business designed to support a broader social mission.

On paper, commodities, HR advisory, and luxury shoes have little in common. Nicole ties them together through a shared standard. Each pillar is meant to deliver attentive service, hold to strict ethical practices, and treat the people involved with real care. “We don’t just provide products or services,” she says. “We align our business model with high ethical standards and positive social impact.”

Building Trust Through Ethics and Transparency

Nicole believes that long-term business relationships are built on trust. Throughout her career, she saw organizations struggle with leadership accountability and transparency across their operations. Those experiences shaped two of LaCentrale’s core areas of expertise.

Through its human resources consulting division, the company helps organizations evaluate leaders and key employees through fit-and-proper assessments designed to support responsible hiring and governance.

Within its mining division, LaCentrale emphasizes responsible sourcing, regulatory compliance, and transparent partnerships throughout the supply chain.

Across both divisions, Nicole’s goal is the same: helping organizations build stronger businesses through ethical practices and long-term trust.

Luxury With a Purpose

Perhaps the most personal expression of Nicole’s philosophy can be found in LaCentrale’s footwear brand.

Crafted in Italy to a premium standard, the collection represents more than luxury design. Revenue generated through the footwear line is intended to help fund long-term rehabilitation programs and employment initiatives supporting survivors of domestic abuse.

For Nicole, the footwear collection demonstrates how a successful business can also create lasting social impact.

She says her greatest fulfillment comes from creating opportunities where people feel seen, supported, and valued. Whether working with organizations or developing products, her goal remains the same: demonstrating that business can be both commercially successful and deeply human-centered.

A Foundation Built on Continuous Learning

Nicole’s multidisciplinary approach is also reflected in her own educational background.

She holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Kinshasa, completed a college-level certificate in business start-up through Emica in Montreal, and earned an IT Technical Support certificate through Google and NPower Canada.

Together, these experiences provide legal, entrepreneurial, and technical perspectives that support the diverse areas of LaCentrale’s operations while reinforcing her commitment to thoughtful, well-informed leadership.

Rethinking the Role of Business

Nicole believes businesses have the ability to contribute far beyond the products they sell or the services they provide.

Her vision for LaCentrale is rooted in the idea that traditional industries, particularly those often viewed primarily through the lens of commerce, can become catalysts for meaningful social change. Rather than separating commercial success from community impact, she believes the two can reinforce one another when businesses are built with intention.

That perspective influences every part of LaCentrale’s long-term direction. It shapes how the company approaches ethical sourcing and leadership integrity.

For Nicole, the measure of success extends beyond growth alone. Her broader vision is to demonstrate that businesses, regardless of industry, can create lasting value not only for clients and partners, but for the communities they touch.

Where LaCentrale Is Headed

As LaCentrale continues to grow, Nicole remains focused on strengthening each of the company’s three business divisions while staying true to the principles that shaped them from the beginning.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that includes expanding digital integration, strengthening supply chain capabilities, and continuing to provide specialized human resources solutions centered on transparency and leadership integrity. For the footwear brand, the focus is on expanding into global markets and generating sustainable revenue to support long-term rehabilitation programs and employment initiatives for survivors of domestic violence.

With each new stage of growth, Nicole remains committed to building businesses that are designed not only to succeed, but to create lasting opportunities for the people they serve. More about her services is available on LaCentrale’s website.

Planetary Health Diet Linked to Lower Heart Risk in Older Women

Womens Journal Staff 2 on July 29, 2026

A 20-year study involving nearly 67,000 postmenopausal women found that closer adherence to the Planetary Health Diet was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The research adds evidence supporting plant-forward eating patterns as part of healthy aging while emphasizing that the findings identify an association rather than cause and effect.

Key Takeaways

A 20-year U.S. study followed 66,892 postmenopausal women.
Greater adherence to the Planetary Health Diet was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Researchers reported lower risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure among women with the highest adherence.
The analysis adjusted for multiple health and lifestyle factors, including age, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, and calorie intake.
Researchers stated the observational study cannot determine that diet alone caused the lower disease risk.

A long-term U.S. study found that women who more closely followed the Planetary Health Diet experienced a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than women whose diets were least aligned with the eating pattern. Researchers analyzed health and dietary information from 66,892 postmenopausal women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative, with participants followed for approximately 20 years.

The study examined whether adherence to the Planetary Health Diet was associated with future cardiovascular outcomes. Women whose diets most closely matched the dietary pattern experienced about a 28% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with women in the lowest adherence group. Researchers also reported that moderate adherence was linked with lower cardiovascular risk.

The findings add to existing evidence examining dietary quality and long-term heart health among older women. Researchers noted that cardiovascular disease risk generally increases with age and becomes more common after menopause. Related findings from research on heart health during perimenopause also point to the importance of monitoring cardiovascular risk throughout midlife.

Study Examines Long-Term Dietary Patterns in Older Women

Women’s Health Initiative Provided Long-Term Data

The research drew on information collected through the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-running national health study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

All participants included in the analysis were free of cardiovascular disease when they entered the study between 1994 and 1998. Researchers selected women who had complete dietary information along with other relevant health and lifestyle data needed for the analysis.

Participants were approximately 63 years old at enrollment. They completed food frequency questionnaires that allowed investigators to estimate how closely each participant’s eating habits aligned with the Planetary Health Diet.

Researchers calculated a Planetary Health Diet Index score for every participant and grouped women according to their level of adherence. Higher scores indicated dietary patterns that more closely matched the recommended eating plan. Readers interested in nutrition-based wellness may also find additional information about the benefits of plant-based diets helpful for understanding similar eating approaches.

The study followed participants for roughly two decades to determine which women later developed cardiovascular disease.

Planetary Health Diet Shows Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Planetary Health Diet Index Explained

The Planetary Health Diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and unsaturated fats while limiting foods including red meat, processed meat, refined grains, saturated fats, and added sugars.

Researchers found that women with the highest adherence to the dietary pattern consistently experienced lower rates of cardiovascular disease than women with the lowest adherence.

The analysis also found that women did not necessarily need perfect adherence to observe an association with lower cardiovascular risk. Moderate adherence was also associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease.

Investigators reported that every 10-point increase in the Planetary Health Diet Index corresponded with an additional reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.

The findings suggest that gradual improvements in dietary quality may be associated with measurable differences in long-term heart health among postmenopausal women.

Researchers Analyze Heart Disease, Stroke, and Heart Failure Outcomes

Researchers examined more than overall cardiovascular disease during the study. They also analyzed individual cardiovascular conditions to determine whether similar patterns appeared across multiple health outcomes.

The results showed lower risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure among women whose diets most closely aligned with the Planetary Health Diet.

By evaluating multiple cardiovascular conditions separately, investigators were able to determine that the observed associations extended beyond a single diagnosis.

Researchers stated that the consistency across different cardiovascular outcomes strengthened the overall findings of the analysis.

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading health concerns affecting older women. The study focused specifically on postmenopausal women because cardiovascular risk generally increases following menopause as hormonal changes occur with aging. Additional guidance on fitness during menopause discusses lifestyle habits that support cardiovascular and overall health during this stage of life.

The research team reported that these findings contribute additional evidence regarding dietary quality and cardiovascular health among older women.

Findings Account for Lifestyle and Health Factors

Observational Findings and Study Limitations

Researchers adjusted the statistical analysis to account for several factors known to influence cardiovascular disease risk.

These factors included age, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, household income, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, and total daily calorie intake.

Accounting for these variables allowed investigators to better evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and cardiovascular outcomes while reducing the influence of other measurable factors.

Researchers emphasized that the study was observational. Observational research can identify associations between lifestyle factors and disease outcomes, but it cannot establish that one factor directly caused another.

As a result, the findings indicate an association between the Planetary Health Diet and lower cardiovascular disease risk rather than proof that the dietary pattern alone prevented disease.

The research team also noted that dietary information was collected through food frequency questionnaires completed by participants at the beginning of the study. Such questionnaires depend on self-reported information and reflect eating habits during the assessment period.

Research Supports Continued Study of Healthy Aging and Nutrition

Researchers stated that the findings contribute to ongoing research examining nutrition and healthy aging among older adults.

The research team is continuing to study additional aspects of diet quality and long-term health, including changes in eating patterns as people age.

Researchers indicated that future work may provide further insight into how dietary habits influence chronic disease risk later in life.

The study focused exclusively on women after menopause, providing information that may help researchers better understand cardiovascular health in this population.

The findings also contribute to scientific evidence examining plant-forward dietary patterns and their relationship with chronic disease outcomes.

Researchers reported that additional studies could further examine dietary quality, aging, and long-term health outcomes across diverse populations while continuing to evaluate cardiovascular disease risk among older adults.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Planetary Health Diet?

The Planetary Health Diet is an eating pattern that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and unsaturated fats while limiting red meat, processed meat, refined grains, saturated fats, and added sugars.

What did the study find about heart disease risk in postmenopausal women?

Researchers found that women whose diets most closely aligned with the Planetary Health Diet experienced about a 28% lower risk of cardiovascular disease than women with the lowest adherence. Moderate adherence was also associated with lower risk.

How many women participated in the research?

The analysis included 66,892 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative who were free of cardiovascular disease when the study began.

Does the study prove the Planetary Health Diet prevents cardiovascular disease?

No. Researchers stated that the study was observational, meaning it identified an association between the dietary pattern and lower cardiovascular disease risk but did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Which foods are emphasized in the Planetary Health Diet?

The diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and unsaturated fats while limiting red and processed meats, refined grains, saturated fats, and foods with added sugars.

Disclaimer:
This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, nutritional, or dietary advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or manage any health condition. Readers should consult a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes, particularly if they have an existing medical condition, take medication, or require individualized nutritional care.