From Adversity to Accolades: Nicole Craveiro’s Unconventional HR Journey

From Fired to Fired Up!
Her path to the podium was anything but conventional - and grounded in personal conviction. As a corporate HR leader working under leadership dynamics that did not align with her values, she was dismissed while her mother was still in the ICU after a suicide attempt. The reason? She was “too people focused.” Being fired — despite elevating people and advocating for fairness — lit a fire under her and ignited the spark that became the business she was meant to build.

That's when she went all in on CraveHRO, a nationwide outsourced HR consultancy where compliance and compassion coexist. Within three months she tripled her business with no investors, no partners, and no team - proving that companies crave guidance that blends expertise and empathy. Several of her first clients remain retained with her today, a testament to the trust she earns and the results she delivers.

Work-Life Blend
While growing CraveHRO, Nicole was also navigating profound personal responsibilities. As her mother's only child, she became her sole caregiver while coping with her own diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome,

a rare and incurable nerve condition that causes extreme pain, after shattering her ankle.

Shortly after, Nicole supported her household financially through her husband’s workplace injury and what felt like prolonged retaliation from his long-time employer, “America's first supermarket,” King Kullen. He was initially on a "protected" leave of absence after her surgery, but what began as an entitlement escalated into punishment through contested workers’ compensation benefits resulting in delayed medical treatment, and ultimately, termination, highlighting how damaging Human Resources can become without humanity.

These struggles strengthened Nicole’s mission to help employers build cultures where humans are not disposable and retaliation is never normalized.

A Full Circle Moment
Nicole’s involvement with the Women’s Business Awards began long before her name was engraved on a trophy. In previous years, she sponsored and judged the Women in Recruitment and HR category. In 2024 she became a finalist and first runner-up, so when voting opened for 2025, she shared her story openly and asked supporters to help her bring this win home.

After years of participating virtually, Nicole flew from New York to London with her signature seafoam-colored suitcase, not knowing whether she would hear her name called. The Women’s Business Awards do not notify winners ahead of time, so every finalist sits with the same mix of nerves and anticipation.

When the Women in Recruitment and HR winner was announced and Nicole’s name echoed through the venue, she experienced a full circle moment — from being told she cared too much about people to being celebrated because of that very trait. The cheers in the room were not just for a trophy; they were for HR as a force for good rather than mere administration. It validated the work she built on her own terms without shrinking herself to fit outdated norms.
Nicole’s work is often described as “Not Your Father’s HR,” a phrase she embraces as both a tagline and a philosophy. To her, modern HR is proactive, human-centered, ethical, preventative, and rooted in the belief that compliance and compassion belong in the same sentence.

What Clients and Colleagues Say
Nicole’s win was influenced by people who have witnessed her impact. Here are a few of the comments they shared:

Proud and inspired: “Watching Nicole build this business has had me full of pride. Her strength, resilience, and caring shine through. To start a business on your own, have it grow exponentially, and know that what you are doing really matters and is helping improve people’s lives is an accomplishment that should be recognized.”

Change maker: “She is one of the most hardworking people I have had the pleasure of knowing. You will not find very many people who can change the tone of Human Resources.”

Authentic leader: “I have known Nicole for 10 years and have seen her blossom into a strong, effective, and compassionate HR professional and entrepreneur. She does not pretend to be something other than her true self. She has moxie.”

Guided by values: “Nicole has a moral compass that guides everything she does. She stands up when things are not right. She gives her heart and soul to her work and improves the lives of the people she touches.”

Simplifying complexity: “She takes complex labor laws and makes them easy to understand. She fights for companies to not only be compliant, but to do right.”

Transformative: “When I first met her, she was just tip toeing out on her own and now she is a force to be recognized.”

A Look Into the Future
Nicole’s vision for CraveHRO is to continue disrupting outdated HR practices. Her win at the Women’s Business Awards shines a light on this approach and encourages other business leaders to embrace it. For Nicole, the recognition is a reminder that leading with heart pays off.

“Nothing fuels me more than being told I can't do something. Tell me I can’t, and I will,” she says. “Compassion is not a weakness — it’s a competitive edge.”