Nikki Trott is a brand strategist and advisor for leaders creating a positive impact through thriving businesses. After years of working as a strategist and marketeer in the fashion industry, she understood that what she was doing wasn’t in line with her inner self. So, she changed her life, leaving her job and the city where she grew up, London. After some time working as a freelancer for brands, she took a step forward, committing to work only for entrepreneurs and brands that are working to leave an impact.
She is the author of Sacred Business, a manifesto for self-transformation, inspiring people to create companies that can thrive in harmony with life on Earth. Besides that, she’s founding partner of regenerative agriculture and food systems transformation fund Rooted. Nikki will be speaking at F&A Next, giving the summit’s closing keynote address on May 22. She will share her expertise in shaping businesses that do good. On the buildup to the event, we spoke with her about entrepreneurship and leadership.
What is your definition of an entrepreneur?
“An entrepreneur listens deeply to the needs of the world, and that includes humanity and the Earth. They also heed the call of their purpose and look at the patterns of possibility that others might not yet see, responding by creating something that serves. It is not about having all the answers, but about being willing to hold the vision, walk with integrity, and create the conditions for life to thrive.”
The solution has to be a life-affirming one. What is a solution that mimics what happens in nature, looking at circularity and regenerative possibilities? A solution that contributes to life instead of extracting from it.
And what about your definition of a leader?
“The old model of leadership has to be dissolved for us to have a regenerative future. A leader today breaks the old hierarchical paradigms and can foster interconnected ecosystems. People can co-create; everybody is a leader of themselves and their project. One doesn’t need a team to be a leader.
It is about fostering an interconnected ecosystem around the leader in a flat way and empowering other people to self-lead and govern also with trust and true collaboration.”
How can a leader convey their values and vision to the team?
“It is about being the flame that lights all the other candles, rather than forcing yourself on others. In my view, a leader ignites the passion and the mission within each of the people in the team, rather than pushing their own on others.
People increasingly want to work in alignment with something that matters to them; they seek meaning. I see that, as the future of brand building as well as with leadership, creating a movement that goes beyond saying ‘you need to do this because I need to make more money’ to say we need to do this together because the earth needs it from us and we all care about it.”
What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur?
“There are five fundamentals that come up for me to that. The first one is: know why you are here. What is calling you? Follow where the energy is. Do what makes you alive because the world needs you to come alive. Secondly, trust your intuition. We all have the answers we need within us, but we are often conditioned to keep looking outside of ourselves. Your inner wisdom is actually the most reliable compass we can have. This concept is frequently forgotten in entrepreneurship, as you have many people around you voicing their opinions.
Thirdly, I think prioritizing energetic and emotional variance is crucial. Many entrepreneurs possess an incredible vision and a desire to make a lasting impact while building a financially stable business. But they are burning out or killing themselves doing it. That is not success, nor a positive example for the team. Fourth is surrounding yourself with like-hearted people. Entrepreneurship is not meant to be a solo path, and we need co-creators and collaborative communities. And last but not least: have fun with it!”
Leading a company in the agrifood tech sector means being at the intersection of the climate and the protein transition. How can a leader ‘surf the waves’ while building a business in this space?
“To surf these waves, an entrepreneur must be grounded in something deeper than trends and innovation. Much of what we want to achieve for the planet is also based on ancient wisdom and knowledge of nature and how the Earth works. Sometimes I feel we are looking in the wrong places for knowledge and making things more complicated than they need to be.
Often it is about simplifying, going back to the roots, and finding new ways of expressing and accessing that. When we have a regenerative view on the world and really listen to the earth, we take cues from natural systems around resilience, diversity, and symbiosis. All these things can be embedded in business models to reflect the regenerative earth we want to be cohabiting. Regeneration is not a strategy but a way of living and being.”
How can one do so, considering the ever-shifting geopolitical scenario we live in?
“Circumstances are constantly shifting, economically, politically, and personally. The most powerful tool a founder can develop is presence and the ability to respond with presence and stay anchored in their purpose and their principles with openness and flexibility. We are in co-creation with the universe.”
