top of page

Dr. Nicole Arco

Owner & Cognitive Psychologist

​

Coaching & Program Evaluation

002N Arco 26.jpg

I didn't follow the "traditional" path to my PhD in Cognitive Psychology. I was 35 years old when I started my doctoral program, after working in program evaluation, while raising two kids. I was a first-generation college student navigating academia, and later, the transition back to industry, completely on my own.​

 

What this meant was I learned everything the hard way:

​

  • How to network when you don't have built-in connections

  • How to explain a "non-linear" career path without feeling the need to apologize

  • How to navigate professional spaces where everyone else seemed to know the rules

  • How to advocate for myself when I'd never seen it modeled

​

I earned my PhD. Then faced the next challenge: What next?

 

The industry job search was a maze. My resume screamed "academic." I had no industry contacts. I didn't know what jobs even existed for someone like me. And every piece of generic career advice felt like it was written for someone with a completely different background.​So, I figured it out through research, trial and error, and a lot of resilience and perseverance.

 

I built the RECLAIM Framework™ based on cognitive psychology research on career transitions, combined with what I lived as a first-gen, non-traditional woman PhD. ​But my path back to program evaluation brought everything full circle.​

 

Those early years working in evaluation taught me something crucial: rigorous research methods only matter if people can actually use the findings. My PhD in cognitive psychology deepened that understanding, I learned not just how to design studies and analyze data, but how people learn, make decisions, and implement change.​That combination is rare. Most evaluators come from pure research backgrounds and write reports that sit on shelves. Most coaches don't have the methodological training to ground their practice in evidence.​I bring both.​​

​

Now I do two things:​

​

Leaf Pattern Design

For Women

I help you navigate the career transition I lived myself, translating your expertise, building networks from scratch, and landing roles where you're valued. The RECLAIM Framework™ is what I wish I'd had.

​

​If you're a woman who:

​

  • Is first-generation and building everything from scratch

  • Has a non-traditional path and worries it's "too complicated"

  • Is a mother balancing career ambitions with caregiving

  • Is tired of downplaying your expertise

  • Has been told you're "overqualified" when you know you're just undervalued

For Mission-Driven Organizations

​I provide program evaluation that's both scientifically rigorous and genuinely useful. The IMPACT Framework™ combines validated methods with clear communication and actionable recommendations, because proving impact and improving programs shouldn't be separate goals.

​

If you're leading a nonprofit or program that:

​

  • Needs evaluation to satisfy funders but wants insights you can actually use

  • Has been burned by academic reports full of jargon and no practical guidance

  • Wants to understand what's working, not just prove you're perfect

  • Needs someone who speaks both "research" and "real world"

​I've been on both sides, as the researcher and as the person trying to make sense of findings. I've navigated systems not designed for me. I know what it's like to need evidence-based answers without the academic runaround.​Whether you're a woman building your next chapter or an organization measuring your impact, I bring cognitive science, practical experience, and a deep understanding of what it takes to create real change.

bottom of page