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NICOLE CARDOZA

Founder and CEO, Yoga Foster

Brooklyn, NY

Tell us about your professional background.

I’m the founder of Yoga Foster, a non-profit that empowers public school teachers with yoga

resources for the classroom. I teach yoga to children and families and believe that everyone
is just a big little kid at heart, regardless of age.

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Previously, my background is in mobile strategy, and I code (front-end, back-end, iOS
programming) in my spare time. I feel blessed that I get to combine my digital experience
with my passion for yoga and youth to create a meaningful program for public school teachers.

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What is the best career advice you ever received and from whom? 

A student in one of my yoga classes once shared why he wasn’t afraid of trying a handstand,

casually stating that “it’s just like standing on your feet, but you use your hands instead.” It

really stuck with me, so now I just think about finding the right perspective to approach difficult

tasks – sometimes you need to flip things on their head.

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If you were a household appliance, what would you be and why?

What an interesting question! I’d say a Dirt Devil, because I’m small yet powerful, and I get

things done.

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Describe your typical morning.

I like to wake up early, snooze for a few minutes, then start with a quick yoga and meditation

session before checking Instagram, making coffee and getting ready for the day. I plan all my

outfits in advance, and don’t wear much makeup, if any, so it usually just takes a few minutes.

Then I spend as much time as possible on a creative project before heading to the office.

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What drew you to yoga?

The practice has this incredible ability to get me out of my own head and relieve me from

overthinking things. It’s one of the few places where I feel free to be fully present in the moment.

My mental health has significantly improved since I started practicing, and I shouldn’t ever go a

day without it.

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Name something you want to accomplish within the next year.

I want to have a more consistent meditation practice, get a tutor to become fluent in Mandarin,
and travel to a country I’ve never been to before.

What question would you ask another Woman of Note?

What would you do with an extra day in the week?