In this 6‑questions‑in‑7‑minutes interview, Professor Pete Alexander talks with Nancy Solomon, CEO and founder of The Leadership Incubator. Nancy explains that her firm tackles "people problems"—what she calls human or soft skills—by helping companies address issues before they affect profit. She highlights the most rewarding aspect of her work: seeing raw potential turn into real impact. Drawing from her own book, she emphasizes a pivotal chapter titled "Ten Carats" that urges leaders to trust themselves, follow their instincts, and mine inner treasure. Throughout the conversation she returns to the theme of self‑trust, describing how confidence grows from action, a "clean mindset" that questions unhelpful thoughts, and strategies to interrupt imposter‑syndrome. She advises against comparison, urging leaders to honor their unique path, and to "choose failure over regret" so they die without wishing they’d done more. A personal story about her mother’s death illustrates living without regrets. Nancy also recommends two fellow leaders—Beata Chillette and Jan Sugar—as podcast guests. She recounts her first job at Saks Fifth Avenue, where she used her psychology training to boost customers' confidence in fitting rooms, reinforcing her lifelong focus on optimism and self‑acceptance. The episode closes with her contact information (theleadershipincubator.com, nancy@theleadershipincubator.com).
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This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.
Well, I've always wanted to do what I'm doing now, which is the CEO and founder of The Leadership Incubator. We are the people people. We do the people problems that no one else wants to touch. So people refer to them as soft skills. I refer to them as human skills. And we help companies to identify, address, and resolve those people problems before they become profit problems.
Nancy, it's so great to have you on the show. Looking forward to this. Question number 2: What's the best thing about working in your industry?
Everything, everything. I've been in this industry for 30 years before there was a thing called coaching, which is why I got my master's in psychology. And it's high touch, high impact, high influence. And to see people take their raw potential and turn it into making a difference in the world is the most gratifying job there is.
Oh, I love that. I can hear the passion in your voice. It's very exciting. Question number 3. I have a fictitious book. With all the answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?
Well, I don't have all the answers, but I do have a fabulous book. And I actually have a chapter, number 18, 19, and it's called Ten Carats. And at the top of the chapter it says, "If you only read one chapter, make sure this is it." And it's about trusting yourself, going with your instincts after you get the information you need. There are people who are talking about the great things they want to do one day. And then there are people who are actually doing it. They mine the treasures in their mind, in their heart, in their spirit, in their soul. And those are the most successful people I've ever met.
I love that. And it's so powerful to, to trust yourself, to have the confidence to do that. I love it. Question number 4, other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude and care for customers, what advice or insight would you give to other business leaders?
I'm gonna go back to trust yourself. Great to be surrounded by really smart people. That's imperative. But at the end of the day, the buck stops with you. So make sure that you've learned to trust yourself. You said something about confidence that I wanna piggyback on. A lot of people will call me and they say, well, I need to get more confidence. And I'll say, well, what makes you think that? Well, I'm like scared all the time. First of all, that's human nature. You should be scared most of the time. And if you're not, you're probably not stretching yourself. But confidence comes as a result of taking action. Confidence is, is like passion. People want more passion. Well, then you have to actually do things that generate the passion. Next, I practice clean mindset. And what that means is you shouldn't believe everything you think. Clean mindset is, is this thinking going to get me closer to my goal or is it gonna end up being an obstacle? Everybody has those moments of imposter syndrome. The point is not to not have the thoughts. It's to interrupt yourself when you do. And lastly, oh, there's actually two more. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. It is the biggest passion killer you could possibly do. You are you. You have a unique and divine path that belongs only to you. And to the extent that you're focusing on other people and not you and your purpose is the extent that you'll disempower yourself. And lastly, choose failure over regret. You don't want to be lying on your deathbed when you're 110 years old and saying, "I wish I had done XYZ." Wow.
And that last one resonated so much. They were all great, but the way to end with that one, it hit home for me too, because I can completely resonate with feeling like, okay, if I'm sitting there on my deathbed, do I have any regrets about anything that I didn't do?
Exactly. And as someone, I just lost my mom 2 months ago.
Oh, I'm sorry.
And while I was lying with her, she said, I don't have any regrets. I had a full, rich life. It has been absolutely fabulous. And being a mom has been my greatest joy. Wow. Okay. That's like out of the mouths, right? You can't make that stuff up.
That's priceless. I love it.
Wow.
Uh, question number 5. What other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
There's actually two. The first one is Beata Chillette of Chillette Enterprises. Beata started out as a colleague and is now a dear friend. She sold her business 14 years ago for many, many millions to Bill Gates. Fascinating woman. And the other one is a woman by the name of Jan Sugar, and her company is Sugar Inc. And I'm gonna let you discover why she's so special. She's a communications expert, and as we know, communications is the key to great leadership. And she's a really interesting gal to talk to.
Wonderful. Well, thank you for those two referrals. I will follow up with them. And our final question, question number 6: Please tell me about your first job.
My first job, my friends were flipping burgers at the Golden Arches. I worked at Saks Fifth Avenue. Now here's what's interesting. Keeping in mind that I'm a trained psychotherapist, I would stand in the fitting room with these naked ladies and I figured out like 10 ways to say, you don't look fat in those pants. And it was all about optimism and positivity and finding out like, why are you buying an outfit? Why do you buy clothes? What's the psychology behind your purchase? And it fascinated me. It still does.
And it's so interesting. You probably built such great rapport very quickly with each of those customers because you had those different ways to make them feel good, correct?
Yeah, make them feel comfortable and in their skin. And you know what the big one is? To love and accept yourself exactly as you are right in this moment. And that was a big one for me to learn. Yeah.
Yeah, for all of us, I think. Wow. So that's been great, Nancy. I just can't thank you enough for being on the show. How could people find you?
Well, you can go to my website, which is theleadershipincubator.com, just like it sounds. You can email me at Nancy@theleadershipincubator.com, and I respond to all my email personally. I'd love to hear from you.
Wonderful. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. For more insights and ideas, please go to LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or iTunes and search for the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.
