We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shaniece Nicole a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shaniece, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is myself. In fact, I’m still working on it. Growth is never linear. Sometimes it’s stagnant and motionless. Other times, it is full force and fluid. Finding peace with the realization that I am a project has been a difficult endeavor in and of itself. I’m also finding that I’m allowed to give myself grace in times where I feel like I’m incomplete or haven’t dedicated enough hours to the process of completion.

But that’s the beauty of a “project.” The ceaseless cycle of “figuring things out” That is what gives something “meaning.” Throughout the process, you are redirected, gain crucial insight, and discover the finest techniques that complement not only the task at hand but, more significantly, the task of working on and through yourself. That’s what makes something “meaningful. There is a shift, transition, or revelation somewhere along the way. You either find something that works or what doesn’t. In any case, you’ve “discovered.” This is more essential than completion and achievement. This is vulnerability at its finest. This allows those around you to meet you where you are and to change lives through imperfection.

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

I am numerous things at once and serve various organizations concurrently. But, at my core, I seek impact in all I do. My work must have a positive impact on those around me. This is something I strive for in both my sports journalism work and as an educator. Both are important to who I am and what I aim to accomplish. My ambition to create stories that were not being told by traditional media companies prompted me to pursue a career in sports journalism. Most stories have discovered a common space that is too rigid to break down. As a result, I sat out to gain a basic understanding of how every role in the media industry functions and everything I need to know about working in this profession (camera operation, producing, editing, filming, and on-camera talent) as a media member who aspires to create my own meaning of storytelling. Throughout my twenties, I bounced about between all of these roles (camera operator, editor, etc.).

At this point in my life, however, I find myself more in the digital creative space, curating content for basketball fans who love the game and want exclusivity and a behind-the-scenes look at what the game entails. But still staying true to my core of making an impact. As a digital creator, I’m looking for moments that convey a story. For example, Chris Paul bonding with his son before a game, or John Wall paying tribute to his mother who died of cancer by wearing custom-made pink Nikes, and my most memorable content, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony coming together to watch their sons compete against each other (great father and son moments). My profession has always been an extension of the good I want to promote in the world. It’s also a key reason why I haven’t been able to shed my dual career as an educator and as a woman in sports.

The unifying thread in all of this is community outreach. My work in sports media and education focuses on community outreach. Connecting athletes with people who look up to him the most (inner-city students). I have several college clients who are working directly with students I am now teaching to encourage them to strive for more than just becoming an athlete. I believe in educating the “whole child,” and one way to do so is to use sports as a form of empowerment.
“Does this give you an idea of who I am?” lol.”

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Shaniece_Nicole_

Image Credits
Alex Amen