Ep 40 | The Power of Collaboration with Nikki & Nikki

You know that kismet moment when you start talking to someone and the brimming over of idea sharing makes you feel like you are on to something? Something that hasn’t been created yet and there is a big need for it in the world. Like you and this person can literally come together and give birth to something unique and extraordinary, just like the one-of-a-kind tiny humans with which we work.That is exactly what happened when we met and decided to collaborate on LBC. Here’s the thing, we are not the only ones connecting with colleagues and germinating ideas that can help to create the IBCLC world in which we all want to live. That is why we were SO excited to welcome Nikki Greenaway, IBCLC, aka Nurse Nikki, and Nekisha Killings MPH, IBCLC, RLC - the dynamic duo that makes Nikki & Nikki - to our most recent podcast episode - The Power of Collaboration. Their collaboration grew from identifying gaps and disparities in the pathway system and a deep desire to demystify and open up the process for black and brown people who want to affect change in the breastfeeding world. Nikki Greenaway, aka Nurse Nikki, is a wife, mother of three, Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She is one half of Nikki and Nikki Lactation Career Consultants where she assists black lactation specialists to register for the IBCLC exam. In addition to co-founding the New Orleans Breastfeeding Center and Cafe au Lait Breastfeeding Circle for Families of Color, she is also the proud owner of a maternal-child health mobile clinic and a health consulting firm providing maternal-child health training and resources to community organizations.Nekisha Killings MPH, IBCLC, RLC is an equity strategist, international board-certified lactation consultant, and maternal and child health advocate. Her life’s work is focused on advancing equity in the field of lactation. Nekisha authored the chapter titled Cultural Humility in the latest Core Curriculum for Interdisciplinary Lactation Care. She acts as Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Lactation Education Resources, and consults organizations on creating and implementing strategies to better support marginalized communities. She is co-founder of Nikki & Nikki: Lactation Career Consultants, which is dedicated to equipping aspirants of color to sit the IBCLC exam. In addition to being a spouse to an active-duty servicemember, Nekisha also homeschools four little future world changers and enjoys writing and researching on the impact of historical trauma on Black families’ breastfeeding experiences today.They have set the stage and continue to find ways to help develop the IBCLC landscape to better reflect the diverse world in which we live, opening up doors and breaking down barriers. You will definitely want to carve out the time to listen and learn about how these two amazing IBCLCs balance their passions for bettering the world for all while putting family first, managing their private practices, and carving out time for themselves. Because if you’re anything like us when an idea starts to germinate, it can be hard to slow the train. Tune in and grow with us!"It's like a switch comes on when someone really gives you confidence that you can accomplish anything. You start to believe in yourself. And it makes all the difference in the world.” In this episode, we will cover:How Nikki and Nikki first came to be (11:10)Demystifying the process for others (16:10)Using support to keep you on track and focused (20:18)What they would change about the lactation industry (29:16)The importance of serving while also being compensated (37:46) Like this episode? Want more?The LBC podcast is ALWAYS free, thanks to contributions from supporters. Every contributed dollar counts and so do our contributors — as a thank-you gift to our top-tier members, we offer monthly LIVE Deeper Dive sessions with experts and access to all previous Deeper Dive sessions — check out our upcoming Deeper Dives and become a member!  Links and ResourcesNikki and Nikki on Instagram: instagram.com/nikkiandnikkiibclc/Nikki and Nikki on Facebook: facebook.com/NikkiandNikkiIBCLC/Nikki and Nikki by email: [email protected] and Nikki’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCySgoTbyiCpREfGELEoeCKQ?fbclid=IwAR2733X67pT4PZZiY_d9PE8HFyAWxKm4gR3bhecJjh6tTzpOAaBXaqQ3EZoHow Did I Miss That?: Breast Assessment and Non-White Skin TonesNational Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color (NAPPLSC) Lactation Education Resources:goldlearning.com/ce-library/all-lectures/breast-assessment-and-non-white-skin-tones-detailSubscribe to the Deeper Dive Membership: https://learn.paperlesslactation.com/subscription/deeper-dive-membershipHave an idea for a podcast episode or a Deeper Dive? Let us know! https://learn.paperlesslactation.com/form/collaborate If you like what you heard today, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram and leave us a review on iTunes. You can email us questions and comments at [email protected]. About UsLeah Jolly is a private practice IBCLC with Bay Area Breastfeeding in Houston, Texas.Annie Frisbie is a private practice IBCLC serving Queens and Brooklyn in New York City and the creator of the Lactation Consultant Private Practice Toolkit.Many thanks to Stephanie Granade for her production assistance, and to Silas Wade for creating our theme music Thanks to our monthly supporters Emily Maize Tiffany Gillies Gina Pepe Gina Pepe Sara Huddleston Sara Huddleston Allison Walsh Allison Walsh Rebecca Leese Rebecca Leese Celia Clark-Randall Celia Clark-Randall Chanelle Andrews Denise McDonald Denise McDonald Mary Muse JOC Team JOC Team Heather Bell Heather Bell Nicole Letizia Nicole Letizia Cathleen Walker Sarah Shapiro, IBCL...