We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Connell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was starting Mère.

In early 2024, I was in the thick of motherhood, juggling a demanding career while still recovering from the emotional toll of postpartum depression. After the birth of my second daughter, I found myself lost in a system that didn’t seem to acknowledge the struggle to find maternal mental healthcare. I had resources but no clear path, healthcare providers but no collaboration, and a deep desire to be held through one of the hardest seasons of my life.

Then, in March of that year, I met with my former sales manager—now a femtech entrepreneur. She asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks: “What are you passionate about?”

I knew the answer immediately. I was passionate about supporting women through the impossible chapters of motherhood. I was passionate about breaking down the barriers in traditional women’s healthcare. But saying it out loud was one thing—acting on it was another.

That same day, I went home, created a logo, and built my first pitch deck. I had no roadmap, no funding, and no guarantees—just a fire in my heart that told me this needed to exist.

Starting Mère was terrifying. I was stepping into a leadership role I had never held before, building a healthcare brand from scratch, and putting my personal story on the line. There were moments of doubt, sleepless nights, and fears of failure. But there were also incredible victories—women reaching out to say, “This is exactly what I’ve been searching for,” providers joining the mission because they believed in it as much as I did, and a growing community of mothers who finally felt seen and heard.

Today, Mère is still in its startup phase, but we are growing and caring for new patients every week. It’s still a huge risk—building something from the ground up always is—but I feel calm in the chaos because our mission is so important and so needed. Every time a woman tells us she finally feels truly seen in what she’s walking through. I know we’re on the right path. Taking this leap wasn’t easy, but it was worth it, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Nicole Connell, the founder of Mère, a virtual women’s healthcare brand dedicated to supporting women from trying to conceive through motherhood. My journey into this space has been anything but traditional.

I graduated with a Bachelors of Science and spent three years working as a medical assistant, gaining hands-on clinical experience with patients. From there, I transitioned into medical sales, where I learned the business side of healthcare, navigating the complexities of the industry. But it wasn’t until my own maternal health journey, particularly the challenges I faced with the loss of my second pregnancy and postpartum depression after my second daughter, that I realized just how many gaps exist in women’s healthcare.

That realization led me to take a risk: stepping into a leadership role I had never held before and building Mère from the ground up. Mère provides collaborative, holistic, and empathetic care to women in some of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives. Our Mère providers truly listen and offer the guidance and support they need, whether that’s through psychotherapy, functional medicine, quick care, pelvic floor therapy, or non-medical pediatric guidance.

What sets us apart is that Mère isn’t just another healthcare company, it’s personal. Every piece of it was built with the understanding that women deserve to feel held, seen, and heard. We aren’t just treating symptoms, we’re changing the way women experience maternal healthcare.

I’m most proud of the impact we’ve already made, even in our startup phase. Seeing women feel supported in a way I wish I had been during my own journey fuels everything we do. If there’s one thing I want women to know, it’s this-you don’t have to walk through this alone. Mère is here to hold you through every step of the journey.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about this a thousand times since starting Mère. When I graduated from Auburn University, I spent three humbling years applying to PA school while working as a medical assistant to gain the required clinical hours. Three years and many waitlists later, an entry-level medical sales opportunity opened up, and I took it—heartbroken to walk away from what I believed was my dream.

And yet, that unexpected pivot shaped everything. I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of Atlanta’s best entrepreneurs, giving me business acumen I never knew I needed. Without that experience, Mère wouldn’t exist. I’m grateful my life plan didn’t unfold the way I once envisioned.

Yes, there are days I wish I were the one providing care. But I’m incredibly blessed to build this brand and watch our exceptional providers pour their hearts into each patient. I get to create something that connects women with the compassionate, attentive care they deserve. And for that, I’m endlessly grateful.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

To be a great leader, you must first learn to serve. One of my former CEOs once told me, “Never be the smartest person in the room.” While I’m certainly never at risk of that, I approach every team meeting and one-on-one call with that mindset.

Trust that your team members are experts in their fields—because they are. Be ready to learn from them, encourage them, challenge them with kindness, and gently guide them toward solutions when needed.

The key to building a strong team culture is striking the balance between support and accountability. Create an environment where people feel valued and cared for while also holding them to high standards and expecting excellence. When you take care of your people, they will take care of you—and that’s what drives real success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mere-foreverychapter.com
• Instagram: @mere_foreverychapter
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-connell-40231696/