Edition #2: Nicole Vasquez

Here at GCUC, we are immensely fortunate to cross paths and work with so many amazing people. Through our work, we’ve cultivated a global community of people we think you should know about.

Community of Cultivators is a new blog series to introduce you to coworking game changers and connectors. Each month, we’ll release new interviews that we hope inform and inspire you.

This month we interviewed Nicole Vasquez, cofounder of Deskpass, formerly of Second Shift. Nicole is a fierce female founder that is helping shape the future of our industry. Give her answers a read.

Name: Nicole Vasquez
Company and Title: Cofounder, Deskpass

What in your life are you most proud of cultivating or creating? Why?

The spirit of bringing people together from all different backgrounds to share their ideas, information, and experiences. I grew up in a multicultural household so I was always seeing different perspectives on things. Now I have businesses that create diverse environments and provide opportunities for people to experience the benefits of a vibrant community (Deskpass and Second Shift).

Where do you personally feel the most sense of community?

I am grateful to be part of multiple communities so I am able to receive benefit in different ways from each community. Personally, the friends I’ve had since childhood, my family because they know me so well and are unconditionally supportive, and my friends that I share similar interests and perspectives with are my ‘personal’ communities. Professionally, we have an incredible community at Second Shift that I can learn from, and Deskpass allows me to visit professional communities all across the U.S! I also have an inner circle of professionals that I can share things with and get guidance and advice to keep us all moving forward in our own businesses.

What podcast would you recommend to others and why?

How I Built This – Because as an entrepreneur you sometimes stop and think, ‘How the heck am I going to get through this?’ Listening to the success stories of other companies I am always reminded that NO ONE has it easy when running a business. It’s about persistence, asking others for help, and taking the risks IF you truly believe what you are doing can make an impact.

What is one piece of advice you give everyone that works with and/or for you?

That I am all about open and honest communication. I work hard, and with me you get what you see. I have no tolerance for inefficiency, passive aggressiveness, drama, or anything that can’t be solved with an open, honest, adult conversation.

If you had $500 to spend- what would you buy?

If I was given $500 I would spend it to treat a group of people to dinner and have a topic to discuss. Everyone is busy, so it’s hard to have relaxed, in-depth conversations with people about life and the millions of things happening in the world. I find good food, wine, and a comfortable setting make for the best conversations which can lead to new perspectives and opportunities to have a positive impact in the world.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur?

Talk with other people who are entrepreneurs as much as you can, not just during the planning stages but all throughout the journey. Find a tribe of entrepreneurs that you can discuss things with as they come up. Entrepreneurship is hard and you spend a lot of time alone working. But you should always allocate time to learn new things and consider other perspectives that you may not be getting on your own.

What is the best habit you ever started? What habit do you want to start but haven’t yet?

Best habit = Walking everywhere as much as I can. It increases your daily exercise but it’s also a good opportunity to call people you love, or listen to podcasts to learn new things. Habit I want to start = Beginning to write my first book!

If you had to put a quote on your gravestone what would it be?

Not trying to be difficult but I seriously have two favorites: “The only way to know is to go.” and “To those of whom much is given, much is expected.”

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There you have it. Check back next month for two more interviews with pillars in the coworking community.