Nicole Haddenham’s life is guided by a deep compassion for both people and animals—and a belief that meaningful change starts with intentional action. A longtime animal welfare advocate, Nicole has opened her heart and home to numerous foster dogs and has a particular love for bully breeds. Her current four-legged sidekick, Pippa—a spunky pit bull, staffy, and Frenchie mix—was adopted from SFACC and rules the home Nicole shares with her husband, Dustin, in the Mission District of San Francisco. Their beloved Ellie, also a rescue pit bull mix, passed away in 2023 but left behind a legacy of unconditional love.
Nicole’s journey in service started early and runs deep. She served as a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and, over the years, has mentored first-generation college students and young professionals and held leadership roles and served on boards with a wide range of nonprofits—from the Denver VOICE and the Jaycees to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Nicole is also proud to be part of the efforts to repeal breed-specific legislation (BSL) in Denver, ensuring fair treatment for all breeds.
Professionally, Nicole brings more than 20 years of expertise in improving the employee experience through innovative technology solutions and strategic communications. She currently serves as the HR Systems and Experience Lead at Stanford Health Care and has held senior roles at Peloton Interactive and Charles Schwab. A frequent speaker on digital transformation and the future of work, Nicole holds a Master of Science in Administrative Studies, a graduate certificate in tech and information systems, and a BA in Journalism, along with certifications in change management, leadership psychology, and positive psychology.