Nicole "Dr. Nic" Rankine is a Career Clarity Strategist and the Founder and CEO of The COLE Academy of Personal Growth, a certified woman-owned small business specializing in leadership development and professional growth.
After nine years as a CDC research scientist and quality manager, Dr. Nic built a methodology rooted in behavioral science and evidence-based systems — not theory. She developed the proprietary CLARITY Framework to help professionals, leaders, and organizations move from confusion to confident action.
She has trained over 1,000 educators across all 50 states as a NISOD National Facilitator, serves as Contributing Faculty at Walden University, Grand Canyon University, and Purdue Global, and has coached hundreds of professionals through pivotal career decisions.
Her work spans school districts, universities, municipalities, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations nationwide. Dr. Nic holds a PhD and MPH from Walden University and is a Certified John Maxwell Team Coach, DISC Level II Consultant, Licensed DEI Trainer, and Certified Mental Health Coach.
When Dr. Nic works with you — whether through coaching, assessments, or training — she brings the same rigor she applied to outbreak investigations at the CDC, combined with the warmth and insight of someone who has navigated her own career crossroads.