Leading with Heart: Nicole DaCosta on Culture, Connection & Career Growth

What happens when a people-first leader helps shape the culture of one of the most talked-about EV startups in the world? In this episode of Shady Characters, Nicole DaCosta — known to friends and colleagues as “Nikki D” — joins Evan Burgher and Tim DeBrincat for an inspiring conversation about leadership, belonging, and what it means to “people” in a world of remote work.

Nicole shares her journey from Southern California to Texas and back again, tracing her career from the hospitality industry to corporate learning, development, and now Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at Rivian. She opens up about the moment a friend’s simple “Are you okay?” call changed her trajectory — leading her to a new role, a new mission, and a team that still feels like “her people.”

The conversation dives deep into:

• How to keep culture alive through rapid growth (from 3,500 to 15,000+ employees).

• Finding balance between autonomy and collaboration in hybrid workplaces.

• Why success doesn’t always mean climbing the ladder — sometimes it’s about moving sideways to learn, stretch, and lead differently.

• The importance of coaching, empathy, and “overfishing the pond” — knowing when to pause to refill your creative energy.

From tearing down cubicle walls at Oakley to literally building “Super Cube,” Nicole brings humor and heart to every story. Her perspective on work, growth, and human connection is a reminder that leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about presence, compassion, and staying curious.

It’s a feel-good, thought-provoking episode about what happens when you build culture intentionally — and lead with warmth in a world that’s forgotten how to people.