Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nikki Almanza. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nikki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

LezBeHonest wasn’t born in a boardroom — it came from the trenches. I spent years working in social services, helping youth and communities navigate systems that were never really built for them. My background in psychology and degree in sociology helped me guide people through their growth, but it also showed me how much unlearning and reimagining was needed — not just for others, but for myself too.

Over time, I kept hitting a glass ceiling. I’d clock into the 9-to-5 (which, LezBeHonest, was more like 7-to-7), but I knew I was meant to help people on a deeper level — with their voice, their vision, their healing, their legacy. I couldn’t breathe in that system anymore, and the truth was clear: I had to build something that honored who I was and who I wanted to serve.

So I took the leap.

At first, it was just me — my phone, my notes app, and a deep sense of purpose. I started helping creatives and entrepreneurs organize their brands, clarify their stories, and move through fear into alignment. But more than anything, I started connecting people. That’s the heart of LezBeHonest — bringing together like-minded creatives, businesses, and visionaries of all walks of life to support each other’s short- and long-term goals. That’s where the real magic happens: in community, collaboration, and co-elevation.

Every step was a mix of strategy and intuition. I didn’t wait until it was “perfect” — I just started. And that is what I tell every client now: the only wrong way to do it is to not do it at all.

LezBeHonest is more than a business. It’s a reminder that you are the architect of your own destiny — and you don’t have to play by broken rules to build something real.

Nikki, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Nikki Almanza, Founder and CEO of LezBeHonest LLC — a creative consulting and network strategy brand built for the underdogs, the disruptors, and the ones who don’t want to play by broken rules.

I got my start in social services, working with youth and mostly marginalized communities for nearly a decade. My background in psychology and sociology gave me the tools to meet people where they were — emotionally, culturally and practically — but even in that space I felt the weight of systemic ceilings. I knew I could help more people if I built something of my own. Something honest. Something empowering. Something deeply rooted in connection.

LezBeHonest was my answer to that calling. I built it to bridge the gap between emotional intelligence and execution — to help creatives, entrepreneurs, and small businesses grow in a way that feels aligned, not performative.

My work sits at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and soul. I help clients clarify their voice, elevate their brand, and connect with like-minded people who can help them get where they’re meant to go. I’m most known for my ability to see the bigger picture, connect the right dots, and build networks that make growth feel less isolating and more possible.

Some of the services I offer include brand consulting, creative direction, content strategy, and network building — but everything I do centers around helping people feel grounded in their truth while building something real. My clients don’t just walk away with deliverables — they leave with a deeper sense of confidence, clarity, and community.

What sets me apart is that I lead with emotional intelligence and lived experience. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. I listen deeply, strategize intentionally, and always keep humanity at the center of everything I build.

What I’m most proud of? The ripple effect. Watching people find their voice, take the leap, and finally feel supported in spaces where they used to shrink. LezBeHonest was built for those moments — the breakthroughs, the brave pivots, and the reminders that you are the architect of your life.

If you’re looking for a brand that’s rooted in realness and built on genuine connection — I got you.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that I had to earn rest — that I could only pause or receive support after proving my worth through nonstop work, self-sacrifice, or overachievement.

That mindset came from years in systems that rewarded burnout and called it dedication — from social services to early entrepreneurship. I was constantly holding space for others, helping them grow, heal, or rebuild, but rarely giving myself the same permission. I told myself I was being “strong,” but what I was really doing was teaching my nervous system that survival was the baseline — not joy, not peace, not sustainability.

Unlearning that meant confronting where I tied my value to productivity. It meant learning to ask for help. To say no. To stop proving and start trusting — in my timing, in my intuition, and in the fact that I’m allowed to build slowly and still be impactful.

That shift changed my entire approach to business. It made me a better leader, a clearer communicator, and someone who no longer equates urgency with importance. Now, I lead from overflow — not exhaustion. And I remind my clients all the time: you don’t have to bleed to be brilliant. You’re allowed to rest and rise.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What helped me build my reputation was being real before I was recognized. I wasn’t chasing clout — I was focused on impact, connection, and consistency. Word traveled because the work worked — clients were seen, supported, and set up to grow in ways that honored who they actually were, not just what was trendy.

I also built trust by showing up fully — not just when it looked good, but when things were messy, behind-the-scenes, or in progress. My reputation came from the way I communicated, the way I followed through, and the way I held space — especially for creatives and entrepreneurs who felt misunderstood or underestimated in traditional business settings.

A lot of people in my network will tell you the same thing: “Nikki connects the right people at the right time and she’s not afraid to say what needs to be said.” That blend of honesty, emotional intelligence, and strategic vision is what makes LezBeHonest stand out. I built my name by doing the work with depth — and letting the results speak louder than the branding.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lezbehonestmovement
• Other: tiktok: @lezbehonestmovement

Image Credits

Digital Dubuque

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Alajie Bumbo