Nicole Saunders / Confidence in the Everyday
Name: Nicole Saunders
MONROE MUSE: Sustainability Champion
Photographer, former project manager, and mother of two, Nicole Saunders is a woman who has built a life and career around balance, bold decisions, and redefining success on her own terms. Her journey from banking to baby portraits speaks not just to a change in profession, but to a deeper transformation: one rooted in authenticity, courage, and everyday resilience.
Tapping into inner strength
“Being a small business owner in this financial climate can be really challenging—and I’m finding I have to tap into my inner strength to keep plugging away on an ongoing basis.”
For Nicole, strength isn’t a one-off heroic act—it’s a practice. A quiet, persistent voice that reminds her why she started: to be present for her children, and to build a business that fits her life, not the other way around. When things feel tough, it’s this clarity that keeps her grounded. “Reminding myself what this work allows me to do—like the school runs, or just being there—helps me keep going even when business feels slow or uncertain.”
Navigating bias and finding your voice
“You shouldn’t have to prove your capability—but sometimes, you do.”
Before photography, Nicole built a career in banking—a male-dominated world where confidence and capability were often assumed of her male peers, but had to be earned by her. As a project manager, she often found herself working with “testosterone-fuelled” teams. Her strategy? Let the work speak for itself. “I demonstrated my knowledge, made sure people knew they were in capable hands, and built trust that way.”
Her advice to other women is simple: back yourself. You don’t need permission to take up space. Just keep showing up—and let your results do the talking.
Redefining impact
“I’m not trying to change the world—but if I can show my kids what’s possible, that’s enough for me.”
Success, for Nicole, looks like raising children who know they can build a life on their own terms. Through her work, she’s showing them that careers don’t have to follow a linear path, and that it’s okay to change direction if your values change too. “I want them to see that you can work hard and still prioritise your family. That life doesn’t have to be either/or.”
The leap that changed everything
“At the end of my second maternity leave, I put my hand up for redundancy. It was terrifying—but it set me free.”
After years of full-time employment, Nicole made the bold decision not to return to the job she knew. Instead, she leapt into the unknown—starting her own business with no guarantee it would work. “I had a good job, good pay—but it didn’t light me up. I knew if I went back, I’d never have the push to change.”
What followed was a life lived on her own terms: years of building something from the ground up while still being there for every bedtime story and school drop-off.
Her biggest lesson? “There’s always another way. With hard work, you can make anything work.”
Strength in what you wear
“If I feel put together, it lifts my mood. I show up differently.”
Fashion, for Nicole, has always played a role in how she feels—especially during her corporate years. “When I dressed more professionally, I felt more confident and others took me more seriously.” These days, her style leans towards comfort—with a side of polish. “There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in your own clothes, but when I feel good, I act with more confidence—even if I’m the only one who notices.”
What Strength & Style means to her
“It’s about confidence. Confidence in your body, your clothes, your choices.”
For Nicole, Strength & Style isn’t about trends or aesthetics—it’s about self-trust. Showing up unapologetically. Choosing outfits that serve your day—and your mindset. “It’s having the confidence to be yourself and not worry what other people think. That’s what makes a woman powerful.”
How motherhood changed everything
“Having my children shifted everything. My priorities, my work, my identity.”
The births of her two children marked a turning point—not just personally, but professionally too. “I used to tie a lot of my worth to how hard I worked or how ‘professional’ I was perceived. But motherhood made me re-evaluate what really matters.” Now, her business fits around her life, not the other way around. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
The power of storytelling
““People see these beautiful photos and think the women in them must have it all together. But they’re just like them—ordinary people, beautiful in their realness.””
Nicole’s work is rooted in capturing life as it is—imperfect, raw, and unforgettable. She regularly shares the stories behind the portraits she creates, helping people connect not just with the image, but with the human experience behind it. “That’s what makes people connect with your brand. We see ourselves in each other’s stories.”
If she could tell her younger self one thing
“You don’t have to have everything figured out.”
Looking back, Nicole wishes she’d known that life isn’t linear. That you can pivot, reroute, start over—and still land in the right place. “Careers don’t have to be perfect, and it’s okay to change your mind. I wish I’d trusted my gut sooner, instead of doing what people expected.”
Nicole’s story is a reminder that strength doesn’t always look like breaking barriers or starting revolutions. Sometimes, it’s found in quiet conviction. In raising your children by your own rules. In building a life that feels good on the inside, not just one that looks impressive from the outside.
And that’s the real power of strength and style.
Monroe celebrates Nicole Saunders as part of our Strength & Style campaign: a platform for women rewriting the rules, changing the narrative, and showing up exactly as they are.