By: Zach Miller
Nikita Steals, the Founder and CEO of Northwest Talent Solutions LLC, is a corporate executive and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in human capital strategies, including Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, and OKR development. Recognized for her contributions to the field, Nikita graduated from Carlow University with a BA in Communication Arts and has held leadership roles at global companies such as Amazon, Capital One, and Conduent. Under her leadership, Northwest Talent Solutions, a WBENC-certified firm, aims to combine holistic talent acquisition with workplace civility solutions for clients across healthcare, technology, and government industries. Known as an experienced consultant and speaker, Nikita advocates for inclusivity, high-performance cultures, and innovative workforce strategies in a rapidly evolving socio-political landscape. In this interview, Nikita shares her perspectives on developing a competitive team, holistic strategic leadership, and her journey in the industry.
Nikita, can you share your journey to founding Northwest Talent Solutions LLC and the driving force behind your passion for transforming workforce strategies?
“Our story began with a deep appreciation for the importance of holistic people strategies in shaping productive, innovative workplace environments. Inspired by this realization, I founded Northwest Talent Solutions LLC with the vision of championing high performance and inclusion as a cornerstone of organizational success.
Our firm’s goal is straightforward: to help organizations cultivate environments where respect, integrity, and collaboration are prioritized. We emphasize the belief that a civil workplace is not just a benefit but an essential factor for fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth.
The driving force behind our passion is the transformative potential of civility on both individual and organizational levels. Through our customized recruitment strategies and focus on promoting high performance and civility, we aim to support businesses in improving how they engage and retain talent. Our mission is to ensure that every interaction and hire reflects the values of respect and inclusiveness.
At Northwest Talent Solutions LLC, we aspire to do more than fill positions—we work to help organizations shape thriving business cultures. This journey is about creating lasting, meaningful change that influences not only workplaces but also the communities businesses serve.”
With “DEI” becoming a divisive term in many corporate and government spaces, how does your focus on Workplace Civility redefine inclusion to align with today’s socio-political realities?
“In today’s complex socio-political landscape, the term ‘DEI’—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—has indeed become a topic of discussion in many spaces. At Northwest Talent Solutions LLC, we approach this challenge by reframing the conversation around ‘Workplace Civility,’ a concept that reflects the essence of DEI with a focus that is designed to be universally engaging and relatable.
Workplace Civility is about fostering an environment where all employees feel respected, valued, and heard—regardless of their background or beliefs. This approach not only embraces diversity but seeks to enhance it by promoting a culture of respect and empathy. By focusing on civility, we aim to help organizations establish a supportive workplace where everyone can thrive, contributing to improved productivity and innovation.
In this way, we strive to redefine inclusion to address today’s realities: it’s not just about meeting quotas or ticking boxes. It’s about building genuine respect and understanding across all groups, creating a foundation where every individual has the potential to succeed. This approach aligns with many goals of DEI but does so in a manner that is adaptive, holistic, and inclusive, ensuring that our strategies are practical and resonate with diverse organizational cultures.”
What challenges have you encountered in addressing political and cultural divides within organizations, and how has your approach to fostering alignment over division proven effective?
“At Northwest Talent Solutions LLC, addressing political and cultural divides within organizations has posed challenges such as entrenched biases, resistance to change, and limited communication pathways. These issues can contribute to fragmented workplace cultures where misunderstanding and conflict may arise.
Our approach to fostering alignment over division is grounded in the principles of Workplace Civility and has shown promise in many scenarios. By focusing on enhancing understanding and respect across diverse groups, we emphasize the importance of each team member’s contribution to the organizational mission. Through training sessions and workshops, we aim to equip employees with tools to engage in respectful discourse and collaboration, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.
We encourage the implementation of structured communication practices that promote transparency and inclusivity. By establishing clear guidelines for civil interaction and regularly reinforcing these values through training and visible leadership support, organizations can work toward cultivating a more harmonious and productive workplace environment.
This method has been associated with bridging divides and enhancing workplace cohesion. In some cases, we have observed improvements in morale and efficiency. While outcomes can vary, our clients have reported positive trends in employee satisfaction and retention, illustrating how efforts to foster alignment over division can contribute to sustainable progress in organizational culture.”
Can you discuss the development and anticipated impact of The Network of Inclusive Leaders app in equipping leaders with tools to navigate inclusion in today’s complex environments?
“The development of the Network of Inclusive Leaders app by Northwest Talent Solutions LLC represents an important step in our efforts to support leadership dynamics in today’s increasingly complex and diverse environments. Recognizing the growing need for tools that equip leaders to navigate inclusion effectively, we designed this app to serve as a comprehensive resource for fostering understanding and providing actionable insights.
Key features of the Network of Inclusive Leaders app include:
- Global Networking Opportunities: The platform connects subscribers with clients, employees, and strategic partners worldwide. Whether seeking to expand a client base, recruit talent, or form partnerships, users can benefit from joining a community of professionals eager to collaborate.
- Exclusive Access: Members join an engaged group of leaders who are contributing to shaping inclusive workplace cultures.
- Curated Hubs: Participate in discussions on high performance, inclusive leadership, and workplace transformation.
- Interactive Courses: Access expert-led content designed to enhance leadership skills and drive meaningful progress.
- Community Feed: Share insights, celebrate successes, and collaborate in a forward-thinking space.
The app includes tools such as real-time feedback mechanisms, customized training modules, and interactive scenarios designed to challenge and refine leaders’ approaches to inclusion. By incorporating analytics, the app provides leaders with personalized insights into their progress and highlights areas for development, enabling a tailored learning experience.
The anticipated impacts of the Network of Inclusive Leaders app include:
- Enhanced Awareness: By exposing leaders to diverse perspectives and challenges, the app aims to increase awareness of the complexities of inclusion and the dynamics of team interaction.
- Skill Development: Scenario-based learning and feedback loops are designed to build critical skills such as empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution.
- Cultural Transformation: By equipping leaders with the tools to model inclusive behaviors, the app has the potential to foster broader adoption of inclusive practices within organizations.
- Informed Decision-Making: With a deeper understanding of team dynamics, leaders may be better positioned to make decisions that reflect diverse needs and contribute to positive business outcomes.
Ultimately, the Network of Inclusive Leaders app is intended to be more than just a tool—it is part of a broader initiative to promote sustainable change. By empowering leaders to prioritize inclusivity, we hope to see improvements in workplace relationships and innovation, as diverse teams become better equipped to address complex challenges.”
In the context of shifting political priorities, how do you ensure that your workforce strategies resonate across industries, particularly in the healthcare, technology, and government sectors?
“At Northwest Talent Solutions LLC, we understand that the shifting political landscape can impact workforce dynamics across industries. To ensure that our strategies remain relevant and adaptable, we adopt a multifaceted approach tailored to the unique characteristics of each sector—healthcare, technology, and government.
- Healthcare: In this essential industry, our focus is on promoting empathy and communication skills, which are critical for patient care and team collaboration. We design strategies that emphasize cultural competency and stress management, helping healthcare professionals navigate the sensitive and high-pressure environments they face.
- Technology: In fast-paced, innovation-driven sectors such as technology, we prioritize flexibility and inclusivity in leadership training. Our goal is to foster environments that support creativity and the exchange of ideas, preparing leaders to manage diverse teams that drive progress.
- Government: In government, where policies and priorities can shift with changing administrations, we emphasize resilience and ethical leadership. We provide training designed to equip leaders with the skills to maintain integrity and civic responsibility, ensuring they can manage public resources effectively and serve diverse communities.
Across all sectors, our strategies are guided by data and informed by current research. By engaging with industry experts and stakeholders, we stay attuned to each sector’s specific challenges and needs. This approach allows us to refine our strategies to resonate with the unique demands of each industry, ensuring they remain both effective and sustainable in fostering an inclusive and productive workplace culture.
Through this tailored approach, Northwest Talent Solutions LLC aims to provide workforce solutions that are not only relevant to current industry needs but are also adaptable to future changes, aligning with our commitment to enhancing workplace civility and effectiveness.”
Looking forward, how do you see Workplace Civility shaping the future of workforce development, especially as organizations grapple with political and cultural polarization?
“Looking ahead, Workplace Civility is poised to play an increasingly important role in workforce development as organizations face challenges arising from political and cultural polarization. At Northwest Talent Solutions LLC, we view civility as more than a matter of polite interaction—it’s a strategic priority that contributes to organizational resilience and success.
As political and cultural divides continue, we believe that a civility-focused approach will have significant impacts on workforce development:
- Enhancing Collaboration: Civility fosters an environment where all voices are valued, which is crucial for effective teamwork. By prioritizing respectful communication, organizations can address barriers of misunderstanding and mistrust, encouraging more innovative and collaborative teams.
- Attracting and Retaining Talent: Today’s professionals increasingly seek workplaces that reflect their values of respect and inclusiveness. Organizations that integrate Workplace Civility into their cultures are better positioned to attract and retain top talent, giving them a competitive edge.
- Building Organizational Resilience: A focus on civility helps create a stable and supportive environment, enabling organizations to adapt to external changes more effectively. This stability supports productivity and focus, even in challenging times.
- Driving Ethical Leadership: Civility promotes leadership grounded in integrity and accountability, qualities that resonate strongly in today’s market. Leaders who model civility can make decisions that build trust and credibility across stakeholder groups.
- Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: Civility is foundational to fostering a culture that goes beyond representation to meaningful engagement. It ensures that diverse perspectives are not only present but actively contribute to decision-making.
As we move forward, Northwest Talent Solutions LLC is committed to integrating Workplace Civility into workforce development strategies. By doing so, we aim to support organizations in navigating polarization and fostering environments where productivity, innovation, and inclusivity thrive. We aspire to help businesses cultivate workplaces that are not only resilient but also adaptable to the evolving demands of the future.”
