Get to know me

NikNaz is my given name and Nicki (Neekee - in Persian: being of virtue, being good) is the one I’ve been called since I remember. I am a first-generation queer immigrant from Iran and settler on the traditional territories of the sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations, colonially known as Vancouver. I think of myself as a skin-in-the-game kind of consultant – the kind who meets you where you’re at, whether in the glory or right in the muck, and works with you to identify and create pathways to organizational clarity, development, and change. Given all the injustices and inequities that I have and continue to witness, it would not come as a surprise that I approach my work from an anti-oppression and social justice lens.

If you ask my clients about my prominent qualities, they will likely speak of the following:

  • Results-oriented

    I custom design and facilitate participatory processes that support your group in identifying tangible action items towards your end goals.

  • Systems thinker

    I consider the broader context, the organization, and the interpersonal and individual needs to ensure optimal processes and outcomes.

  • Structured and emergent

    I think systematically, plan methodically, and develop structures and scaffolding to be flexible and highly responsive to emerging needs.

  • Unapologetically inquisitive

    I ask the hard questions that help surface assumptions and unpack constraints, leading to a more critical examination of the problem definition and solutions.

  • Radically honest

    I share what I observe and shine a light on the unnamed with the goal of supporting you to move forward more authentically and constructively.

  • Seriously fun

    I take my work seriously. I also bring lightness and humour to our work and believe laughter and joy are essential ingredients in transformation.

I enjoy co-creating productive, inspirational, and fun working relationships and environments that not only support the initiative, but also the personal learning and development needs of the individuals involved. Working with me, you will feel good about the work and outcome. You will also feel challenged. Sometimes you might not like hearing what I ask or have to say, but you will know that I care and you will likely want to go for [insert favourite drink] with me before the project is over.

On larger projects, and sometimes on smaller projects that require additional skill-sets or approaches, I collaborate with other consultants who have similar values and work ethos.

I am a certified non-profit lifecycles capacity consultant. I also have an MA in interdisciplinary studies, a Project Management Professional certificate as well as a certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement from Simon Fraser University. The arts are an integral part of my life and weave their way in various forms in my consulting practice. As a mixed media artist, I think visually and enjoy the challenge of capturing and distilling ideas.