Nicole Martin: The Accidental Entrepreneur on a Mission
When you meet Nicole Martin, Chief Empowerment Officer and Founder of HRBoost®, one thing becomes immediately clear: she loves what she does, and she excels at it. “I’m the accidental entrepreneur,” Nicole often says. “I never set out to start a business, but one day I looked back and realized—’Whoa, I did it!'” Nicole’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t planned. Instead, it was driven by her passion for showing clients how strategic human resources can be the backbone of a thriving business. Today, she’s a successful entrepreneur and an HR industry innovator, focused on helping small to mid-sized businesses unlock their full potential through their employees.
Raised in Montana, Nicole describes herself as a “country girl in disguise,” where the sense of community was strong, and everyone knew each other. Her mother, a deeply spiritual woman, was Nicole’s first mentor, instilling in her the belief that happiness is key and that she could achieve anything she set her mind to. Inspired by these values, Nicole left Montana at 18 and moved to Libertyville, Illinois, where her entrepreneurial journey began. 
Her entry into the HR world was serendipitous. Working as a receptionist at a firm just before Y2K, Nicole noticed a problem that sparked her interest in human resources. “They were bringing in computer experts from overseas, but they didn’t know what to do with them once they arrived. It was just inhumane,” Nicole recalls. While taking a college course in HR, she decided to help by pitching her training program to the director. Impressed by her initiative, the director created an HR department and moved 18-year-old Nicole from reception into this new role.
Nicole has been building HR departments from scratch ever since. Her approach is unique in that it starts with the business’s vision, designing HR programs that are seamlessly integrated with that vision. From hiring to performance reviews, every program she develops is designed to boost productivity and help employees understand the value of their contributions.
At HRBoost®, Nicole and her team are on a mission: to bring joy and purpose to people’s work. This vision is not just a tagline but a lived experience at HRBoost®, where they help clients align their HR strategies with their business goals. HRBoost® has become a leader in the Human Resources Management System sector by encouraging passion, fostering change, and redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Nicole leads by example and shares her insights to benefit others. She’s authored two books that resonate particularly with women, though men find them equally impactful. “The Power of Joy and Purpose” is Nicole’s personal story, where she shares her seven Presence Principles, a framework that helps her maintain her joyful approach to life and work. She also co-authored “No Fear Negotiation for Women” with John Tinghitella, a book designed to empower women with negotiation skills. Nicole’s business is a testament to the flexibility and trust needed to build a successful team, especially in an all-women environment where many are in their child-rearing years.
Nicole is also an internationally recognized speaker and author, known for her dynamic and empowering leadership. She has been honoured with numerous awards, including the 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Champion by Enterprising Women Magazine and recognition as one of the “20 Impeccable Women in Business” by Mirror Review in 2017. Her expertise is widely sought after, with her insights featured in prominent publications like Forbes.com, the Daily Herald Business Ledger, and Fast Company.
Like any business, HRBoost® has faced its share of challenges, particularly in accessing capital—both financial and human. Nicole emphasizes the importance of investing in talent and trusting the process. “In the early years, I was reacting to my business, and as a mother and wife, it was challenging to balance work and life,” she reflects. “But when I hired capable talent and trusted them to do their jobs, the process worked, and now we can replicate it over and over again.”
Nicole advises aspiring entrepreneurs to gain hands-on experience, ensuring that their chosen path brings them joy before fully committing to it. “Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you, but also challenge you,” she says. “Stay diligent, even when it gets tough. Anything you love will be worth the effort.”
HRBoost® serves a diverse range of industries, including professional services, non-profit organizations, high-tech, manufacturing, staffing firms, hospitality, and healthcare. Their clients are typically high-growth businesses with 50-250 employees. HRBoost® offers a full suite of HR services, from embedded support to project-based assistance, culture design, management training, and more. Their success is largely driven by word of mouth, a testament to their personal dedication to each client.
At the heart of HRBoost® is a simple yet powerful vision: to bring joy and purpose to people through their work. It’s a vision Nicole Martin and her team live by every day, helping businesses create workplaces where employees thrive, and businesses grow.
Nicole’s journey is a reminder that entrepreneurship is often less about following a set path and more about following your passion—wherever it may lead.
