“It’s hard to teach determination, but if you’ve had setbacks, and you’ve had to fight to get to where you are, it is built in you to keep going,” says Nicola Free. “It’s how quickly you bounce back, what learnings you take away, that can make you even stronger.”

With a career shaped by determination, hard-won resilience, and a commitment to leading with integrity, Free does not just navigate change — she drives it. She reflects on how embracing risk, learning from inspirational leaders, and trusting in both her existing skills and her capacity to grow have been central to her journey.

Taking Risks and Having Faith in Herself

From an early age, Free learned to be a self-starter. She reflects, “I came from a very working-class background and went to the worst school in Warwickshire. I had to teach myself my GCSEs because the classes were so disruptive.”

Determined to “do something with my life and make my parents proud,” Free was the first in her family to attend university, where she pursued law. However, it did not take long for her to realize that the legal path, while hard-earned, was not where she wanted to stay. When a client she had supported on a major securitization project invited her to help launch a CMBS platform, she made a decision that would completely change her career.

“It was definitely a big risk,” Free admits. “I would never have anticipated that I would have left the law a year after qualification, but this new opportunity sounded really interesting.”

Jumping into a completely new environment, Free recalls that “a third of it was in my comfort zone and two-thirds I was learning from scratch.” Free leaned on what she knew: her work ethic and resilience.

“Have confidence in the skills you bring, work hard to learn what you don’t know, and don’t give up at the first hurdle. Be willing to take a leap of faith. Ultimately, it’s about believing in yourself; that you’ll get there, and that you can do it.”

That mindset has carried her through ever since. Today, Free is a recognized leader in her field. As Head of Commercial Real Estate (CRE), EMEA for Wells Fargo, she is driving the firm’s CRE strategy across Europe, strengthening its capital markets capabilities, and deepening client relationships in the region.

“It’s a hugely exciting time to be a part of this business and the opportunity ahead of us…this is the year that the strategy is all coming together.”

Leading with Humility and Authenticity

When reflecting on her leadership approach, Free emphasizes the importance of clarity, humility, and authenticity.

“I always try and bring people along with me,” she says. “Give them a vision of what the strategy is, what we’re trying to achieve…make them feel like they’re part of something really special.”

She continues, “it’s about leading with integrity, humility, and doing the right thing for the business, the clients, and the strategy we’ve set for ourselves.”

Mentoring and feedback are important elements to how she leads. “The only way I managed to make a success of my career change was having good people around me who were prepared to coach and teach me,” Free says. “It’s incumbent on us all, particularly as leaders, to be that player-coach where you take the time to give people feedback and help them develop.”

She recognizes that it is also about holding oneself accountable when things go wrong and ensuring others are recognized when they go right. “When things are going really well, make sure people are getting the credit.”

Find a Culture that Aligns with Your Values and Leadership who Embody It

While Free is unquestionably guided by a strong internal compass, she also highlights the vital role that external factors, particularly an organization’s culture and leadership, play in shaping meaningful career development.

“One of the things I’ve learned throughout my career is to ask: What’s the culture? What kind of institution do you want to work for? At Wells Fargo I enjoy working for a bank that has a strong culture that I can relate to while being guided by truly inspirational leaders.”

Free is particularly inspired by Kara McShane, Head of Commercial Real Estate at Wells Fargo, “who is seen as one of the most influential women in finance.”

“To be able to work for somebody like her is really inspiring…and when you have leaders you trust and respect, you want to do your best for them.” It’s a dynamic she now pays forward to her own team. “I want them to come in and feel they’re part of something great, and that they want to succeed because they believe in me, in the business, and in the leadership above me.”

Be Bold. Own It.

Surrounded by leaders she respects, and serving as one herself, Free is acutely aware that leadership is not just about results; it’s also about presence. For women in real estate finance, that presence is still too rare at the top.

“If you’re a woman running a lending business in this industry,” she recalls reading in Real Estate Capital, “then you’re pretty extraordinary.” The line gave her pause, not out of self-congratulation, but reflection. “I come in and do my day job because I love it and want us to succeed. I don’t think of myself as any different than any other leader. But seeing that made me realize there’s a responsibility that comes with being one of the few.”

It is a responsibility that Free takes seriously. As she has risen through the ranks, invitations to speak and serve on panels have increased, and she uses them to push for broader representation. “I’m always conscious about making sure there are other women at the table, that the panels are diverse, and that we’re holding ourselves and others accountable.”

Her visibility is intentional. Instead of blending in, she embraces standing out.

“There’s a big real estate conference I go to every year,” she says. “You queue to board the flight, and it’s just a sea of men in navy suits. I make a point of wearing something bright and own the fact that I’m not the guy in the navy suit. I’m the woman in the bright red dress. It’s an opportunity to be seen.”

She emphasizes, “Being different can make you more memorable. It’s not just about gender. You might be younger, newer, or from a different background. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to be visible. Have confidence and own it.”

Outside of work, Free applies the same conviction and focus to her personal life. She’s a mother of two daughters, and a competitive CrossFit athlete.

“I’m a strong working mom, and it demands a lot of my time, but I’m showing my girls what working hard and loving what you do can lead to and I’m not apologetic about it.” CrossFit is her outlet, her reset. “When I am training hard, I’m not thinking about anything other than being in the moment… it’s a really good way of switching off.”

That thread of determination runs through everything she does, whether it’s qualifying for a legal career, shifting into finance, growing a business, mentoring a team, or lifting a barbell.

“When things get really tough, don’t give up,” she says. “If you keep digging in, you’re going to feel so great at the end of it.”

By Jessica Robaire