What Do You Need to Shed? Nicole Nelson on Leading Up Through the Ranks
The Step UP - Where Leaders, Talent Managers and Leadership Development pros find expert tips for Leadership excellence · 2026-05-12 · 46 min
Episode notes
What actually changes when you stop being the best individual contributor in the room and start being responsible for the people around you? Nicole Nelson has navigated that question at every level of a 20+ year career in CPG sales, from her first people management role covering Southern California and Hawaii to leading cross-functional teams as a Senior Director. In this conversation, she gets specific about the moments that forced her to recalibrate, the mentors who saved her, and why self-assurance beats imposter syndrome every time. Guest: Nicole Nelson is Senior Director of Sales, Distribution and Sales Planning at CJ Schwan's, with a career spanning General Mills, Lactalis, and roles across retail and food service sales.