Nicole Williams seemed destined for sales since her days as a Girl Scout.

Even though she perceived herself as shy, “I always sold the most cookies or had the most badges.”

Asking for money for a cause she believed in came easily to her. What didn’t come easily: Her undergraduate degree. In 2000, she was a single mom to twin toddlers, working two jobs and taking 18 hours of classes for a marketing degree.

Dr. Linda Pettijohn, who retired from the marketing department in 2010, said of the thousands of students she taught in her 23 years at MSU, Williams stands out. “If you say you can’t have it all, you haven’t met Nicole,” Pettijohn said. “Everyone gets 168 hours in a week, but to know Nicole you would have thought she had 200. That was how well she got things done.”

She often used Williams as an example for other students.

“Dr. Pettijohn would say, ‘If anyone needs help with time-management skills, contact Nicole,’ ” Williams said. “I used that story a lot in interviews, or when people want to know the true Nicole.”

Williams used that work ethic in jobs in finance, biotech/pharmaceutical and nonprofit organizations. Her career took her to Atlanta in 2011, and in 2014 she opened a State Farm Insurance agency.

“My business has really flourished because people see me being a leader in the community and want to help me grow my business.”

Williams is the president of the National Sales Network’s Atlanta chapter, which organizes professional development opportunities for minority sales professionals and managers. It has about 300 members.

She is also an alumna and board member of the Atlanta chapter’s New Leaders Council, which trains entrepreneurs and other professionals to develop into progressive political leaders.

“I knew five people when I moved to Atlanta; now my network is probably more than 2,000 people because of my involvement in nonprofit organizations.”

In 2014, she was recognized as an “Emerging Leader” by Who’s Who in Black Atlanta. In 2016, she was featured in Ryse magazine, a print piece of the Ryse media group that celebrates multicultural professionals.

Her time-management skills are still sharp: She is considering opening another business and may start fundraising for a political campaign. She is also preparing to send her 17-year-old twin sons to college.

She attributes some of her success to Missouri State professors, who taught her about personalized service — when “people know your name and know your history. I learned that approach from Missouri State, and it really has helped me throughout my career.”

Williams’ top 3 fundraising tips

Williams has raised funds for nonprofits, and has been part of committees that have raised more than $1.8 million. Her tips:

1. Don’t be afraid to pop the question.

   “A lot of people talk about how great their product or company is, but it’s harder to ask ‘will you donate?’ or ‘can we get a pledge card going?’”

2. Provide networking opportunities — both in person and online.

   “Mixing (in-person) networking into fundraising activities has been a huge hit here in Atlanta. There are a lot of young, single professionals who want to get out and meet people. … (Also) engage people on social media; that’s huge! Especially those young and emerging audiences. They don’t open emails or mail. If you don’t get them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram — and there’s probably many others that I don’t even participate in — then you’re not going to reach them.”

3. Get on the radar of your local movers and shakers.

   “Tap the shoulders of leaders who have large networks and influence within the city, and then they’ll invite their people out.”

This article appeared in the Summer 2016 Missouri State Magazine and can be accessed online here.