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Meet Nicole

Photo by Images by Indi

WHO IS NICOLE SNELL?

Speaker. Self-Defense Expert. Survivor Advocate. Trainer.
Adventurer. Solo Traveler.

I'm a dynamic, award-winning international speaker, facilitator, trainer, author, and self-defense expert specializing in sexual assault and violence prevention education, gender based violence prevention, personal safety and empowerment-based self-defense. I am committed to ending violence in all of its forms by educating others with self-defense skills and advocating for change. I believe in social justice, equality and that everyone has the right to walk through the world feeling safe, powerful and confident.

I address topics including: 

  • Campus/Corporate Safety

  • Outdoor/Solo Travel Safety

  • Personal Safety

  • Teen Dating Safety

  • Women's Empowerment

  • Boundary Setting

  • Self-Defense

  • Harassment Prevention

  • Bystander Intervention

  • Runner Safety

  • Domestic Violence Prevention

  • Violence Prevention

  • Sexual Assault Awareness

  • Leadership Development

  • Motivation

  • Career Development

My mission is to empower women and people of all gender identities around the globe to live their lives unrestricted by fear!

In addition, as an outdoor enthusiast, solo adventurer/traveler and hike leader, I want to use my skills to encourage others to expand their world, explore and do what brings them joy. Without limits.

2020 Webby Award Winner
Tastemade Travel: Self-Defense for Female Travelers

You are worth fighting for and you are fully capable of being your own best protector!
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GROUPS SERVED INCLUDE

University

College

High School

Youth Orgs

Corporate

Brands

Tech

Realtors

Law Firms

Sales Teams

ERGs

Travel Industry

Conventions

Healthcare

Tribal Nations

BIPOC Orgs

Run/Hike Groups

Retreats

Advocates

DV Shelters

Military

DoD

Government

Conferences

Private Groups

Individuals

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Photo by Jovelle Tamayo

CEO
Girls Fight Back

Girls Fight Back is the world-renowned personal safety and empowerment self-defense program for women and girls since 2o01!

as seen on

Gender Inclusive Programs Available!

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Photo by Fort Eustis PAO

International Speaker

I have trained, facilitated workshops, delivered keynotes and led seminars at hundreds of US military installations in 14 countries for SAPR Victim Advocates, leadership and service members. I speak at universities, high schools, Fortune 500 companies, the US Military, retreats, corporations, outdoor groups, conferences, private groups, and more internationally.

Self-Defense Expert

In addition to running Girls Fight Back, I'm a lead instructor for IMPACT Personal Safety & IMPACT Global. We teach full force self-defense skills around the world using adrenalized, realistic, scenario based training.

Nicole self defense fight girls fight

Photo by Deborah Hart Photography

Founder

Outdoor Defense

I created Outdoor Defense to empower people to enjoy solo hiking, camping, outdoors activities &

travel with simple

self-defense skills!

Speaking programs &

one-on-one sessions available!

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"Her enthusiasm and her warmth are contagious; students invariably come out of her classes feeling stronger, happier, and more confident than when they came in. Nicole makes self-defense training fun as well as informative."

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Photo by Yenny Garcia

Let’s get PROFESSIONAL
Dynamic. Driven. Engaging. Focused.

I travel the world speaking, training, and teaching violence prevention skills. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life! As a survivor, it is incredibly meaningful and rewarding to be able to teach others how to be their own best protector and live without limits.

 

I received a full scholarship to attend Cal State Long Beach as a President’s Scholar. I graduated with honors including Summa Cum Laude and Distinguished Student of Liberal Arts, with a BA in Speech Communication.

 

I spent the next 12 years working as a Line Producer in the Entertainment Industry, and produced over 75 shows worldwide. In 2014 I made a career change to women’s empowerment, sexual assault prevention, and advocacy. I began working for the Department of Navy Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (DON SAPRO), facilitating Sexual Assault Prevention (SAPR) workshops at military installations worldwide including the Pentagon, NATO, and the Office of Naval Intelligence. I've trained at 100's of  military installations in 14 countries. As the daughter of a retired Marine, it is an honor to serve military members in this way.

In 2020, I purchased Girls Fight Back, the world-renowned personal safety and empowerment self-defense company founded in 2001 by Erin Weed in honor of her friend and sorority sister Shannon McNamara. I was a speaker for the program for 6 yrs prior to becoming the CEO/Owner and have stepped into my new role with excitement. I will continue the mission to teach women and people of all genders how to be their own best protectors through boundary setting and evidence-based violence prevention education. GFB is a Black Woman Owned Business.

Over the course of my career, I have delivered hundreds of interactive seminars, workshops, and keynotes to millions of people for colleges, K-12 schools, every branch of the US Military, outdoor groups, corporations, Fortune 50o companies, the healthcare industry, private groups, and more. In 2017, I volunteered in Fiji to teach Girls Fight Back workshops for women and girls in several local villages. 

I'm a lead instructor for full force self-defense with IMPACT Personal Safety and a member of the IMPACT Global Travel Team. My self-defense training includes IMPACT LA, Defense Against the Armed Assailant training, FAST defense & the GFB Speaker Academy. I'm an NACP Credentialed Victim Advocate, Credentialed ESD Professional and a collaborative partner with Interactive Advocacy.

 

In 2019 I created Outdoor Defense, my YouTube series that provides safety strategies to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors solo. I've produced and released 60 episodes to date!

AWARDS & HONORS

Certificate of Appreciation

 

Colonel Peter C. Glass, Deputy Director, Futures and Concepts Center, US Army, Fort Eustis

Certificate of Appreciation

 

 Lieutenant General, William M. Burleson III, Commanding General for 8th Army, Seoul, South Korea

Certificate of Appreciation

 

SgtMaj Fields at Camp Hansen, US Marine Corps, Okinawa

Best Online Self-Defense Class for Groups & Organizations

VeryWellFit
2021-2023

PROFESSIONAL SNAPSHOT

500+

Speaking Engagements Around the World

100+

Military Installations I've Visited Including:

350+

Hours of Full Force

Self-Defense Training with IMPACT Personal Safety

1,000,000+

People Trained

14

Countries I've Worked In

Let’s get PERSONAL
Adventurous. Tenacious. Curious. Focused.

I've visited 34 countries on 6 continents and hiked in 19 of them. And I often do it solo!  People have tried to discourage me by saying it’s not “safe for a woman to travel by herself” or that my wide range of interests and the activities I participate in are "not things that girls do”, or that “Black people don’t do that.” I refuse to live in fear and I will not allow others to limit me or control how I live my life based on their own fears or stereotypes.

I've had many adventures in my life including: Scuba diving, horseback riding, camping, hiking, ice skating, archery, falconry, white water rafting, sky diving, hang gliding, surfing, motorcycles, snowboarding, wake boarding and more! I love adventure and want to experience as much as I can.

I volunteered for 7 years as a hike/adventure leader for the LA based non-profit, Black Girls Trekkin and have partnered with various outdoor brands. I'm spent 3 years as a proud Global Advocate Athlete for HOKA.  I'm also an author for Treeline Review. I actively speak out for diversity and representation in the outdoors spaces.

In addition to the long list of hobbies I enjoy, I also write, host, do commercial work & voice overs, and am a humanist wedding officiant!

ADVENTURE SNAPSHOT
Machu Picchu Nicole Snell hiking adventure

2017

Solo Trip to hike the

4 day Inca Trail to

Machu Picchu

Nicole Snell scuba diving adventure

2018

Scuba Diving on

Koh Samui, Thailand

Tongariro Alpine Crossing Nicole Snell hiking

2016

Solo trip to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand,

2014 Schooling show Teagan Nicole Snell Equestrian Horse English Jumping Crossrails Liz Corkett

2014

English Schooling Show, Crossrails Class

Nicole Snell Ziplining St. Maarten adventure solo trip

2010

Solo trip trip St. Maarten

Nicole Snell Waitomo New Zealand adventure solo trip

2016

Solo Trip to

New Zealand, Waitomo Caves

Are you in danger? Experiencing abuse or violence? You are not alone.

Click below for a list of resources.

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