From the Streets to the Virtual Stage: How Nicole Borghi Turned Lived Experience into Her Greatest Asset
Your past isn’t a liability; it’s the bedrock of your brand. For many entrepreneurs, especially those from the African diaspora, the journey to success is paved with challenges that business schools don’t teach. These experiences, the grit, the “hustle,” and the resilience, are often seen as something to overcome or hide. But what if they were your greatest marketing asset?
Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.
In a powerful episode of The Obehi Podcast, host Obehi Ewanfoh sat down with Nicole Borghi, known as “The Digital Diva,” an Immersive Marketer who helps clients create soul-driven virtual events.
See the full episode Nicole Borghi
Nicole’s story is a profound testament to the idea that our deepest struggles can forge our most potent strengths. Her journey from roots to relevance offers a blueprint for any entrepreneur looking to own their story and build a business that not only grows but also makes a meaningful impact.
The Hustle You Can’t Unlearn
Nicole Borghi didn’t learn about strategy in a pristine corporate office. Her education began on the streets of East San Jose, California. “As a child, I pretty much grew up on the street and raised myself,” she shared.
With parents facing mental health challenges, survival meant navigating a world of gangs and constant uncertainty. This unconventional upbringing taught her a fundamental lesson in human connection and influence.
She observed the dynamics of the street with a keen eye. “The local drug dealer on the street… he had that hustle,” Nicole explained. “He had that ability to really change the life of people because he could talk, he could communicate, he was a great seller.”
This raw, unfiltered masterclass in sales, persuasion, and reading people became the foundation of her future success.
See also Your Story is Your Legacy: 5 Business Lessons from the World’s Top Brands
Many business coaches later advised her to leave that part of her life behind, to “get a suit on and change who you are.” But Nicole realized that sanitizing her story would mean erasing her superpower.
The same skills that allowed her to navigate complex social structures on the street were directly transferable to de-escalating a crisis in her later career in law enforcement or captivating an audience from a virtual stage.
This is the essence of Obehi Ewanfoh’s Story to Asset Framework: recognizing that every part of your journey, especially the difficult parts, can be transformed into a valuable asset that attracts your ideal clients.
From Pain to Power: Why Your Story Is Your Spotlight
“What happened to us is what actually forms us at the end of the day,” Obehi remarked during the conversation. “If nothing happens to us, we will just become children all our life.”
This profound insight gets to the heart of why our stories matter. Hardship is not a sign of failure; it is the furnace that forges character, empathy, and wisdom. Obehi uses the powerful analogy of a diamond: taken from the earth, it looks like any other stone. Only after immense heat and pressure does its true brilliance emerge.
Your life and your business are no different. When you own your story, you stop being a victim of your circumstances and become the hero of your journey.
Nicole’s path required immense self-mastery. She had to heal from her past, not by erasing it, but by understanding it. “I can’t allow other people to heal or help other people to heal if I don’t heal myself first,” she stated.
This process involves acknowledging the pain without living in it. It’s about forgiveness, accountability, and channeling powerful emotions like anger into productive action. For entrepreneurs, this authenticity is magnetic.
When you speak from a place of lived experience, your message resonates on a completely different level. As Nicole noted, you can always tell when a speaker is sharing a genuine story versus performing a role they’ve never lived.
Your audience can feel the difference, and that feeling is what builds trust, connection, and ultimately, a loyal community.
Building Your Stage in the Digital World
So, how do you take this powerful, authentic story and turn it into a platform for growth? This is where Nicole’s expertise in virtual innovation comes in.
She argues that in today’s noisy digital world, “You don’t need more noise, you need a spotlight.” Hosting your own virtual event, like a summit, is one of the most effective ways to build that spotlight. It allows you to control the narrative, build authority, and create a space for meaningful collaboration.
The pandemic forced many businesses online, but Nicole sees this not as a temporary fix but as a permanent evolution. Virtual reality (VR) and immersive experiences are the next frontier. Far from being just for gaming, VR offers entrepreneurs powerful tools to connect with their audience in new and exciting ways.
Imagine hosting a trade show, a workshop, or a product launch in a custom-designed virtual world.
- Global Reach: People can attend from anywhere, breaking down geographical barriers. Nicole, for instance, can run her business from Florida, Las Vegas, or Colorado seamlessly.
- Cost-Effective: You can create “Verch” (virtual merchandise) and build entire event spaces for a fraction of the cost of a physical equivalent.
- Deeper Engagement: VR allows for gamified solutions and interactive experiences that hold an audience’s attention far better than a standard video call.
- Safety and Inclusivity: This is perhaps the most powerful aspect. Nicole works with a nonprofit, Confronting Domestic Violence, and highlights how VR provides a safe space for survivors. “Victims who cannot show their face… now they can healthily put a mask on (as an avatar) and still have a business,” she explained.
This technology isn’t about replacing human connection; it’s about enhancing it. It’s about creating new dimensions where people can gather, learn, and grow together, embodying the spirit of Ubuntu, where our shared humanity is what binds us.
Your Story, Your Stage, Your Legacy
The journey from your past to your purpose is not always easy. One of the biggest challenges Nicole sees is people’s resistance to change and the overwhelming feeling that they need to understand every technical detail themselves.
The key, she advises, is to “keep it simple” and trust the process. You don’t need to know how the engine works to drive the car.
Ultimately, your story is the fuel. Your unique experiences give you a perspective that no one else has. By embracing every chapter of your life, you build a brand that is not just profitable but also purposeful. You create a legacy.
See also See also The Story Of Shola Akinlade, A Nigerian Entrepreneur the Co-founder And CEO Of Paystack
If you’re ready to stop hiding your story and start using it as your spotlight, the journey begins with taking that first step. Explore the vast resources available on AClasses Media, with over 2,000 articles, or dive deeper by listening to more than 1,000 insightful interviews on The Obehi Podcast.
To learn more about creating your own immersive virtual experiences, connect with Nicole Borghi on LinkedIn. As Obehi powerfully concluded, “If you don’t take action, it’s just going to be the same as if nothing has happened.” Your story has the power to change everything. It’s time to own it, share it, and build the stage where you can truly shine.
