We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nikita Collier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nikita below.
Hi Nikita, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
For me, the process of going from idea to execution happened naturally because I had already started the work before it ever became a business. I saw how beneficial AI was and how it could help businesses. I started taking clients because I understood this new technology that everyone was just starting to hear about.
At that time, I was working as a Mental Health Specialist at a Montessori school, restructuring my main business, and launching a new edtech company for kids. I had a lot on my plate, but AI made things manageable for me, and I wanted to help others experience that as well.
Before I had a business name, logo, or website, I was already in offices training staff within the first months of ChatGPT launching. That first consulting job was also my first time training a group of adults in a professional setting, and the feedback showed me there was a real need for this. After consulting with companies, I wanted to start helping people more closely with their own goals. That’s when I decided to start teaching AI to entrepreneurs so they could work smarter, be more efficient, and improve both their professional and personal lives.
Once I decided to shift to entrepreneurs, I moved quickly to make the business official. I filed the company, bought the domain, created the logo, built the website, and designed the marketing materials. Since I own a digital branding agency, I was able to do everything on my own timeline.
One of the first things I had to learn was who my audience actually was. I wanted this to be a safe space for female entrepreneurs, but once I launched, I started gaining male clients and followers too. I had to learn how to show up unapologetically as myself while still keeping the space respectful and professional for everyone. In the beginning, I branded everything pink because it’s one of my favorite colors and I had never used it for any of my previous brands. Over time, I’m starting to bring in more neutral and muted tones as the brand grows with me.
Technically, I got to work immediately. In the technology field, especially specializing in AI, things change rapidly. I didn’t wait for the “perfect launch.” I got started before the business idea was fully formed. Even now, I’m still learning and still building. I’m currently finishing my Master’s in Data Science with a focus on Machine Learning. The closer I get to the finish line, the closer I am to launching the Totally Techie podcast. For now, I’m continuing to consult, educate, and build AI solutions for professionals, especially in the tech space.
My path started with confidence, experience, taking immediate action, and sharing what I was learning in real time.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
For those who may be learning about me for the first time, I typically introduce myself as a tech founder first. I own multiple tech startups, and I’ve bootstrapped all of them. I opened my digital agency first. I started designing and developing websites by myself, and now I have a team of creatives delivering websites, graphics, video reels, digital and physical products, and custom product packaging. I also founded a startup teaching kids how to code through creativity. Most recently, I added That AI Girl to the list, helping entrepreneurs utilize AI for their benefit.
I got into tech by creating a website for myself. I worked in the entertainment industry and wanted to separate myself as a professional in the industry. After creating my website, people I worked with in entertainment started asking me to do the same for them. When I received my first payment for delivering a website, I was hooked. I taught myself HTML and CSS, then took it a step further by learning a programming language. I graduated from a full-time coding bootcamp learning C#. I continued learning and taught myself Python, which was a breath of fresh air after learning C# syntax. Now, back in school and still learning, I’ve added R to the list of programming languages. I love learning, and in this industry you must be committed to being a lifelong learner.
I currently provide branding services through my digital agency, coding workshops in my community for youth, and consulting services for AI adoption and implementation. I also began speaking engagements this year. I’ve given talks, served on panels, and participated in fireside conversations on AI, storytelling, branding, entrepreneurship, and youth initiatives for success. One of my latest opportunities was being sponsored by Google to speak at the Blockly Summit at their South Lake Union campus in Seattle for my youth edtech company, The Genius Code. It was a huge milestone for me, and the summit helped me grow even more as a speaker and founder.
The main problem I solve for people is helping them make their ideas real, how to execute what they have in their mind and actually push them toward the most polished and professional version. I know how to get results for my clients, and I share my knowledge freely. As I’m learning, I’m adjusting and educating.
I’m most proud that I am actively working on my dreams. I have a lot of ideas, and sometimes it can be overwhelming, but I’ve been breaking these goals down and executing. I want people to know that I make things look easy, but a lot of late nights and tears have pushed me forward. Everything I’ve experienced working across different industries has shaped my work ethic and my respect for others.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
When it comes to books that have impacted my life, I always have to mention The Alchemist. It has shaped my personal life and carries over into my professional life as well. My main takeaway from The Alchemist is that I cannot ruin my destiny. The journey I’m on is intentional, and I’m gaining something from every turn and encounter. Even delays and detours won’t stop me from reaching my destination.
Right now, I’m reading Who Better Than You? The Art of Healthy Arrogance and Dreaming Big. Coming from the entertainment industry, I still get motivation from people who are actively working in the industry. There is a different type of willpower required to be successful in entertainment that I fully appreciate. A lot of times, people tell you to “humble yourself,” but who’s going to promote you more than you? Encourage yourself and believe you are doing extraordinary things. Dreaming big is a great thing, and while people often say “be realistic,” I encourage you to dream bigger. Do it the biggest you’ve ever done. I always say: Dream big, start small. Many times, just starting will inspire you to dream even bigger.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn the idea that I was “too much.” All the “toos” like being too loud, too bold, too creative, even too happy. I carried that criticism for a long time. The backstory is that no matter what I did, it always felt like I was too much for one person and not enough for another. There will always be someone who isn’t pleased with a decision you make for yourself.
What I’ve learned is that I could be “too much” for everyone in the room and still be the perfect amount for myself. Once I stopped adjusting who I was to make other people comfortable, I started standing in who I am with confidence. The moment I chose to show up consistently as who I am instead of shrinking to satisfy others, everything in my life and career aligned in a way it never did before.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nikirai.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lovenikitarai
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/nikita-collier/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Lovenikitarai
Image Credits
The Brand Sols by SolsPro