This piece originally appeared in our newsletter, “Carnegie Corner,” Issue No. 4.
Shelley Nicholls, an entrepreneurial leader known for optimizing and inspiring teams to achieve critical objectives, was named The CI’s Executive Director in late June. She started her career in the automotive industry as an engineer and went on to lead $100M+ projects. Shelley spent the past six years in the social profit sector and currently also serves as a consultant for EPIC Leadership in Toronto. She and her husband reside in the Greater Toronto Area and are the proud parents of four children (ages 10-17) that include three active hockey players. She also serves on the Board for Black Girl Hockey Club Canada.
CI: Was there a particular instance in your life you recall as the moment you fell in love with hockey?
SN: Falling in love with hockey was not on my Bingo card even though I grew up in Montreal’s west island surrounded by an intense hockey fan base. We had a hockey rink at the end of our street growing up that my sisters and friends would skate on every winter, but hockey never felt like something for us. My husband also grew up in the Montreal area and played hockey for seven seasons in his youth. His love for the game brought our kids out to skate and play hockey first in our backyard and then at the rink. Our oldest, Vivian, tried a learn to skate program at a local rink and fell in love with the game around 8. She was supposed to be part of a one-hour/week skate program but by the end of the first day of practice, she was hooked. She demanded to stay and try out for the hockey team that was going to practice after. She made the team and so my hockey mom era began in 2013.
CI: Describe your life as a hockey mom to three players at the same time. What are some of the most important lessons the game is teaching your sons?
SN: After Vivian shifted from hockey to track, Ellis had just turned 4 and was ready to get on the ice like his big brothers, Vaughn and Avery. During hockey season, we are often in 3-4+ different arenas every weekend cheering on the kids, timekeeping or my husband is behind the bench coaching them.
The game of hockey is exciting, fun and a team experience for them that they really enjoy. The sport can also be a difficult, frustrating, and toxic space for players who come from underrepresented groups. An amazing shot, cool pass or flashy footwork has triggered some nasty words from opponents trying to knock the boys off their game. It has been difficult, and they have learned some tough lessons at a young age but the love of hockey persists. They are developing relationships with their home teams as well as other young Black hockey players through Hockey Equality that let them know they belong.
Shelley and her family.
CI: What drew you to this opportunity to lead The Carnegie Initiative?
SN: The charitable sector is a new area for me after studying mechanical engineering and working in automotive for many years. After my last son arrived, I didn’t have the flexibility I needed to continue working in manufacturing, so I didn’t go back to work right away. The charitable sector was an unexpected career segue, and I have really enjoyed the opportunity to build relationships, problem solve and develop projects that positively impact communities.
Leadership positions in charities have been very challenging spaces for me as a Black woman, in some ways more difficult than in the corporate space. So, the opportunity to directly work with Bryant McBride and Bernice Carnegie, two people who are passionate, thoughtful and supportive was an easy decision. Also my sons’ love of the game and a need for them to know more about the history of Black people transforming the game was important to me.
CI: What specific traits do you possess that are critical to your role in leading an organization focused on making sustainable change to the culture of hockey?
SN: I am resilient, resourceful and committed to taking actions that support sustainable changes in hockey and our communities. The last few years have exposed and highlighted a myriad of systemic inequalities that challenged Canadian and American people to talk about their values and the actions they take to address the realities facing Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented groups. It can be exhausting being in leadership, but it is also inspiring to know that we are building on a legacy that the next generation can be proud of and will help move the game and our communities further forward.
CI: What do you see as the most immediate challenges The CI must focus on to see more progress in making the sport more inclusive and welcoming to all.
SN: The CI is focused on a number of projects, and at the forefront is developing and launching a successful 2024 Summit in Toronto. Over the last two years, the Summits (Boston in 2022 and Toronto in 2023) were a key space for leaders from the grassroots to the NHL, academics and others to gather, share successes/challenges and identify actions for sustainable changes.
Throughout the year, I’m looking forward to engaging with the community and learning about the progress at the grassroots level so we can amplify it across our network. I’m excited about the Tennessee State University’s men’s hockey program that will launch soon and hopefully be replicated at other Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). In addition, I look forward to cheering on the next iteration of the women’s professional hockey league and highlighting the progress being made.
The CI creates spaces for folks to gather and have tough discussions, amplify inclusion, and bring attention to challenges that limit the sport from truly being welcoming to all. We are looking for more partners and allies. If you are interested in connecting, drop me a line at [email protected].