Nicole Barbano | Founder. Coach. Consultant. Wife. Mother. Relentlessly Focused.
About Nicole-
Nicole Barbano is an accomplished executive coach with nearly two decades of experience in executive search, leadership development, and organizational strategy. As the founder and CEO of Hunter Ambrose International, she’s helped organizations across industries identify top talent, elevate their leadership teams, and navigate complex growth challenges.
In addition to her executive coaching and search work, Nicole has built and sold two successful online companies—one in the medical tourism sector and another as a niche job board. Her ability to scale and exit ventures informs the practical, results-driven approach she brings to every coaching engagement.
Nicole’s insight is shaped by a uniquely diverse life experience. Originally from California, she’s lived and worked everywhere from rural America (just outside Yosemite National Park) to major metro hubs like San Francisco and Chicago. She raised her three children in San Diego and now resides in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband, Justin Wade Sipe, Co-Principal at Hunter Ambrose.
Nicole works with founders, executives, and ambitious professionals who are navigating change, leading teams, and seeking clarity in their next move. Her coaching style is direct, strategic, and focused on measurable growth—with an unwavering commitment to helping her clients lead stronger and live better.
Meet Nicole: Her Values and Vision
Roots & Values
Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Nicole was deeply influenced by her Italian immigrant grandfather, who came to the U.S. from Potenza. He instilled in her the importance of hard work, the unwavering value of family—and the sanctity of Sunday dinners. A photograph of him in his World War I uniform has a permanent place in her office, a daily reminder of his legacy.
Sunday dinners remain non-negotiable—a grounding ritual of good food, family, friends, and meaningful conversation.
A Personal Pivot
Nicole launched Hunter Ambrose from the dining table of her San Diego apartment with just 45 days’ notice—and three kids about to start summer break. It was June 2006. A solo parent to children in grammar and middle school, she was living in a modest two-bedroom apartment. With encouragement from a few early clients, she gave herself a clear deadline: launch the business by the time school let out. By the end of that summer, she and her kids had moved into a house in La Jolla.
Work That Matters
Nicole has worked with organizations across Rural America, digging into what makes these communities tick. From leadership to core values, she’s seen what drives success in places that don’t always make the news.
How She Communicates
Nicole is a straight-talker who leads with clarity and respect. Her communication style is direct, never mitigating—because poor communication can be catastrophic (just ask Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers). In both life and leadership, she leans on a simple yet powerful filter: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Curiosity & Conversation
She loves asking people: Where have you been, and where are you headed? Nicole is always up for a good travel story—whether it’s discovering the best BBQ in the U.S. or listening to someone who just returned from the interior of China. Travel, she believes, fuels curiosity, challenges limits, and ignites goals worth pursuing.
Seasons of Meaning
Easter is Nicole’s favorite holiday. It offers a “new year” energy without the pressure of Christmas—an ideal time to reflect on Q1 and look forward to what’s next. It’s a moment of quiet reset that’s both introspective and energizing.