Generosity is a word that constitutes the very essence of being human. It keeps us sane and brings us together as one. Our morals and ethics drive us to not just do the right thing, but it also motivates us to be better. Helping each other to grow in harmony should be the way to life and there are few people who are driven with this ideology, who make things happen and make a difference in the society positively. There is one such entrepreneur, who with her zeal and passion for enhancing the life of people around her has not only transformed her life, but countless many others.
Her journey as an entrepreneur started very early (when she was eight or nine years old). She was not sure what she wanted to do. “I tried to be as innovative as possible. I took old newspapers and magazines and tried to resell them,” describes Nicole Rodrigues. Like most of the young start-ups, Nicole’s venture did not scale much. Although, what she gained in return was insights for tomorrow and a blazing entrepreneurial spirit that kept her excited throughout that whole experience. She is a go-getter and believes in hard work. According to her, one must start doing what needs to be done and make things happen. “If you want to manifest your dreams, stop talking and start doing,” says Nicole.
“Keep adding value to other people’s existence. That’s how you serve and make a difference”
A Relentless Soul
As far as Nicole’s professional journey is concerned, it started in 2003 where she ventured in the Media and Entertainment space. The journey began in Dubai and now she has a multifaceted talent agency helping talents across the globe realize their dreams through Diva Dubai. “Today, most of the talent agencies that are running in the region are all ex-employees or Diva models,” states Nicole.
That essentially makes Diva Dubai the mother of all the agencies across the middle east. It operates across four verticals namely, talent management, film production, fashion, and events and promotions. In 2004, Nicole started with Diva Holdings which is a Real Estate agency which dabbles into renting, buying, or selling of the properties in the region. “Also, we have got Diva Salon as well in my portfolio,” informs Nicole. She spearheads Diva Group of Companies as the Founder and CEO.
Nicole’s purpose in life is to help other people realize and fulfil their own purpose. She believes that her role is to provide people with suitable opportunity and lift them up from where they are. “You just have to do your best and the system works. Serving each other serves our higher purpose,” explains Nicole. Making a difference does not need to be complicated. According to Nicole, it starts with the values that we garner throughout our childhood.
“Parenting plays a vital role in shaping a kind mind and it is important in building a value system for a person,” she adds. Education helps a person in maintaining the society’s structure, but values and ethics instilled at a young age in a person, assists in driving the said societal structure. Living life with a positive approach than a negative one is necessary. Especially with combination of elements like, support, caring, trust, understanding, giving, empowerment, and encouragement is the way to about living a life filled with positivity.
Diva in the Making
When Nicole came in Dubai in 2003, she observed that there was no agency working formally in the media and entertainment business or the networking industry. There was no structure to the space and no one helping people find the right talent. The industry was fragmented. “I wanted to create a platform for the sake of my daughter which will eventually go to her and provide a safe environment for her to grow,” conveys Nicole. She wanted to work in the industry she knew could add value to other people and that is how Diva Dubai was born.
If a person who is not associated with the industry and not has been behind the camera, they simply cannot understand and run the business or agency while creating a comfortable space for the artists and clients both to work in. This is where Diva comes into the picture. “Diva has always been experiencing constant innovation and I think it’s important to understand that its not about finding a space and settling down, it is about finding a space and improvise,” shares Nicole. Right now, her team is working on a next-gen platform that can take Diva globally and be able to connect talents with the clients directly.
Diving Ahead
As everything is going digital, there are lesser jobs for people. It is slowly and steadily becoming a silent crisis as with the advent of digitization, the opportunities are shifting from a person-oriented job to an automated one which is indirectly affecting the livelihood of people. “We need to be able to create more jobs, it should not be the other way around,” opines Nicole.
So, according to her, the future is about creating more platforms that can enable more opportunities to people and connect them with their respective purpose or opportunities directly. That is why, converting digitization into an opportunity is very important. Nicole says, “Having a digital presence is paramount today for personnel from every industry vertical, may it be actors, models, or film makers, etc.”
“I like to create my own tasks and like to be busy all the time,” iterates Nicole. This is how she ensures that she is moving while experiencing the highs and lows of life. She advices everyone to do the same.
“Entrepreneurship starts early and with the craziest ideas”
