Transforming cultures one beat at a time.

Nichole Barnes Marshall is a visionary executive with over 25 years of experience leading human capital and culture transformations at some of the world’s most respected global brands. Today, she’s dedicated to building inclusive, high-performing cultures where people and business thrive together.

Book cover titled 'The Beat Must Go On' with subtitle 'Reimagining Inclusion for a Divided Era' by Nichole Barnes Marshall. The background features colorful dotted patterns and light flares.

Join the World House & book Waitlist

The Beat Must Go On book and The World House Community are for the people who refuse to retreat — who know that division is a dead end and belonging is worth fighting for… join us today.

Early Access 
Past Engagements:
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Black background with stylized white text and a slogan that reads, 'WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE?'
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Logo with a circle containing two horizontal bars and the text 'Columbus Urban League' beside it.
Logo for SISTAS IN SALES with stylized text and design.
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Logo with a stylized high-heeled shoe and the text "Women in Retail" in bold white letters on a black background.
A logo with the text 'The Great British Baking Show' and a silhouette of a mixing bowl with a whisk.
A woman standing in the middle of a city street with tall buildings in the background. She is wearing a black dress, black high heels, and a bright pink coat with ruffles at the bottom. She is smiling and looking at the camera.
Cover of a magazine featuring Nichole Barnes Marshall smiling, wearing a pearl necklace and a black leather jacket. The magazine's title is 'Inclusion' and it highlights topics like diversity, law firm initiatives, and inclusive workplaces.
A woman with glasses and long dark hair, wearing a black pinstripe jacket over a white t-shirt with printed words, sitting on a pink chair, holding a microphone, speaking at an event with a pink background that has text reading "SISTAS IN SALES Summit."

Nichole Barnes Marshall

"You can only overcome resistance by creating something so undeniably better that people can't help but move toward it."
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The Beat must go on debuts in Winter 2026

From the dance floors of 1980s Chicago to the board rooms of some of the world’s most successful corporations, Nichole Barnes Marshall discovered that the same principles that made House music so revolutionary are exactly what our divided world needs right now.

Book cover titled "The Beat Must Go On" by Nichole Barnes Marshall, with colorful polka dots on a dark background and subtitle "Reimagining Inclusion for a Divided Era."

Speaking

The Beat Must Go On: Nichole Shows Us The Way

Nichole wakes your audience up to what’s possible in the world of belonging and inclusion by looking forward while drawing from lessons from our past.

A woman with glasses and dark wavy hair, dressed in black, wearing a statement necklace and jewelry, holding a remote or pointer, speaking or presenting in an indoor setting.

Keynotes

Engage and educate your audience with a talk from Nichole. Topics range from moving forward in the midst of adversity, to making the. case for Inclusion within your organization.

Two individuals seated on a stage, a woman speaking into a microphone and a man listening. Behind them is a purple backdrop with the text 'VBTBR' and a question mark.

Panels

Nichole is a seasoned panelist who always brings a refreshing presence to panel conversations. She’ll keep your audience engaged and informed while ensuring an intentional conversation flow

Two women sitting on blue chairs during an indoor event, smiling, with beige curtains and a window with curtains behind them.

Workshops

Nichole’s custom workshops and team training sessions are unforgettable, formative and will leave your team equipped with what they need to move forward.

Nichole circa 1992

Black and white illustration of a person playing soccer with a ball.

Download nichole’s 1990’s chicago house playlist

Dance to Nichole’s favorite beats that created a space for authentic expression and community building across differences.

Listen on Apple Music