By: Ellery Blake
For over 25 years, Dr. Nicole L. Yeldell Butts, founder of NLYB Solutions, has supported countless individuals in navigating the challenging yet necessary work of transformation. As an organizational culture strategist, executive coach, women’s transformational coach, and keynote speaker, she has guided leaders, boards, and executives worldwide. But at the heart of her work is a mission that extends beyond boardrooms: helping women reclaim their authentic power and step into lives that align with who they truly are.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the ways we might shrink from our values—whether in the workplace, in relationships, or even in how we see ourselves,” she reflects. “My work is about helping people notice those moments of shrinking and providing them with a roadmap to step more fully into their truth and thrive.”
A Personal Story of SHIFT
Dr. Butts’ journey to this work is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Despite her advanced degrees, prestigious leadership roles, and a thriving career, she found herself outwardly accomplished but internally misaligned.
“Like many women, I was operating on autopilot—achieving, performing, reacting—without pausing to ask myself deeper questions: Why am I making these choices? Are they aligned with who I want to be? Am I living fully in my truth?”
That pause led her to a season of intentional reflection and self-inquiry, from which her SHIFT Framework™ was born. A five-step process—Set your North Star, Here (you Are Here), Illustrate the Path Forward, Forge Ahead, Thrive Unapologetically—began as a personal compass, helping her navigate times when she had played small or abandoned her voice, and guiding her to step into alignment with her values and purpose.
“It wasn’t created in a boardroom or brainstormed on a whiteboard,” she says. “SHIFT was forged through lived experience, through the lessons of learning to rise after shrinking.”
What began as a tool for her own growth became a powerful methodology for her clients. Whether coaching executives or high-achieving women, she recognized the same patterns: fear, societal conditioning, and competing demands causing people—especially women—to quiet their brilliance. SHIFT provided a clear process for reclaiming their voice and vision.
A Voice for Women at a Crossroads
Dr. Butts specializes in coaching high-achieving women over 40—professionals who have spent years excelling in careers, raising families, and serving their communities, but often at the expense of their own dreams.
“These women come to me saying, ‘I’ve checked all the boxes, but I don’t feel fulfilled. What about me?’” she explains.
“They’re not lost—they’re ready. Ready to invest in themselves, rediscover joy, and take steps toward thriving unapologetically.”
Her women’s coaching program, rooted in the SHIFT Framework, is designed to help clients reconnect with their future selves, redefine success, and take intentional steps toward lives that feel deeply authentic.
“Thriving isn’t a luxury,” she says. “It’s the standard every woman deserves.”
The Book That’s Sparking a Movement
In September 2025, Dr. Butts will release her highly anticipated book, SHIFT: A Transformational Journey From Playing Small to Unapologetically Thriving. The book blends memoir with a step-by-step guide, inviting women to reflect on their own moments of shrinking, uncover the fears and beliefs holding them back, and create a personalized path toward thriving.
Accompanied by a Companion Guide and Reflection Journal, the book is part of a larger movement Dr. Butts is building—one that champions women’s voices, stories, and power. “This book is my love letter to every woman who has ever dimmed her light to be accepted,” she says.
“It’s a roadmap for reclaiming yourself.”
Coaching, Speaking and Sparking Change
Beyond her writing, Dr. Butts is a sought-after speaker known for her dynamic presence and authenticity. Her upcoming keynote, The Courage to SHIFT: Transforming How We Lead, Live, and Thrive, inspires audiences to embrace courage and clarity, while equipping them with actionable tools.
Beginning in fall 2025, she will launch a national speaking tour tied to her book, focusing on women’s empowerment, personal transformation, and leadership.
One client said, “At 47, I had the title, the salary, and the burnout. Nicole helped me see that success without fulfillment isn’t sustainable. With her guidance, I made bold career and personal changes that once felt impossible. I’m no longer shrinking to fit—I’m expanding into who I’m meant to be.”
From Corporate Lessons to Women’s Liberation
Before founding NLYB Solutions, Dr. Butts spent years as a Chief Diversity Officer and HR executive, shaping organizational cultures in industries from higher education to healthcare. That experience honed her ability to see systemic patterns—the same ones that often impact women’s confidence and choices. Today, she bridges that expertise to help women recognize how external systems influence internal beliefs, so they can reclaim their narratives and power.
“Leaders can’t change organizations without doing their own inner work,” she says. “And women can’t thrive fully without naming the systems they’re navigating. The SHIFT process helps do both.”
Looking Ahead
This fall, Dr. Butts will take the stage at the ACE Women’s Network, sharing insights on women’s leadership and transformation. With her upcoming book, coaching programs, and keynote talks, she is building a movement that calls women to step out of survival mode and into unapologetic thriving.
“For too long, women have been told to settle, to be smaller, to be quiet,” she says. “My work is about dismantling those narratives and helping women choose alignment, courage, and joy.”
Through her books, coaching, and speaking, Dr. Nicole Yeldell Butts is redefining what thriving looks like for women everywhere. Because for her, thriving isn’t just the goal.
It’s the standard.
To learn more, visit nicolebutts.com.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. The coaching services and methodologies discussed are based on professional experience and personal journeys. Individual results may vary, and the effectiveness of the strategies presented is not guaranteed. Readers are encouraged to consult with a professional before making significant personal or professional decisions.
