Nick Norman

Strategic Engagement Leader, California

Nick works with organizations on strategic communications and engagement to give ideas visibility, mobilize communities, and help causes expand their impact both locally and across borders.

His work spans digital libraries and universities, mental health, emerging technology, and social impact projects —earning him an Anthem Award and, through collaborative work, recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives.

Talks & Workshops →
Global organizations and institutions Nick has partnered with, contributed to, or supported through major projects

Projects & Impact

Nick’s experience spans every stage of growth, from developing ideas into programs and projects, to launching and scaling them across regions and borders.

Examples of Nick's work include:

  • Open Library - Serving 12 Million Patrons Worldwide: As Communications Fellow & Lead-Emeritus, founded the first communications department for the world’s largest community-led digital library—a program that continues today with global reach. Explore Case Study →

  • $3 Million Community Transitional Housing Model: Commissioned as project manager to design a housing and services model in a struggling hotel, securing $3M in its first month through community pledges and agency partnerships. Explore Case Study →

  • UC Berkeley & Internet Archive: Contributed to large-scale digitization of government history at UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies Library, work recognized with an Anthem Award for Best Use of Technology. Learn More →

  • Author & Creator, The Perfect Day Project: A personal journal exploring agoraphobia, anxiety, and resilience through lived experience. Entries blend daily reflections, stories, and coping tools to encourage others and offer real-world perspective. Learn More →

  • InnovatorMD Global Summit: Collaborated with the marketing team and founder to plan and launch their first hybrid Global Summit and ongoing community Meetups, for the world’s leading physician-led innovation forums. Learn More →

  • Internet Archive, 25th Anniversary Campaign: Helped shape a global advocacy initiative during a landmark legal challenge, producing communications that influenced public opinion and earned recognition from the U.S. Congress. Campaign Highlights →

  • Decentralized Web Global Convening: Co-produced a gathering of 500+ leaders—technologists, lawmakers, and community pioneers—to advance the decentralized web movement. Read More →

  • Wayforward Machine: Collaborated on a global digital freedom campaign using an immersive “2046” experience to spotlight themes of censorship and surveillance. Explore Case Study →

  • Served as the first digitization technician for pilot microfiche program, offering critical workflow and equipment feedback that shaped process design, and supported scaling to global digitization centers Learn More →

  • Applied Multi-Agent Systems Research: Designed prototypes to explore how AI agents can be distributed, collaborative, and accountable, with projects ranging from document intelligence to threat simulations and decision-maker education. Explore AI Systems→

UC Berkeley

We’re honored to have our digitization work featured by the Institute of Governmental Studies Library at UC Berkeley. Special thanks to their video production team for capturing this important project.
The LoCalDig Project 

Nick's Origin Story

Nick grew up surrounded by books. Both his parents were academic librarians, yet learning didn’t come easy.

In school, he failed classes, was bullied, and eventually placed in a special program. It was there that things changed—not because the material was different, but because one teacher delivered it in a way that met him where he was. That experience showed him that knowledge that creates real change doesn’t just live in books; it lives in people who know how to connect learning to the learner.

That realization guided Nick’s career. Instead of climbing a traditional ladder, he chose a path defined by seeking knowledge and building relationships—always looking for the human connection that makes innovative ideas both meaningful and easy to grasp. It’s a learning mindset that brought him into rooms where strategies were developed and major decisions were being made, the kind that move industries and impact global communities

In those settings, Nick wasn’t just a voice. He helped shape strategies and led projects that drove movements, global campaigns, and innovative programs. Through it all, Nick has developed a way of working that’s consistent across every project:

→ Activate partnerships by creating pathways for funders, donors, and supporters to engage.
→ Mobilize  communities by turning interest into participation and building momentum around a shared cause.
→ Strengthen communications so achievements and goals are visible to the audiences that matter most.

Nick welcomes opportunities to collaborate on projects that advance innovation and community impact.
Verify Credential

Talks & Workshops

Nick offers 3 sessions: each drawing on years of experience designing programs, building trusted relationships, and learning healthy ways to stay resilient through challenges.

Workshops are available in half-day and full-day formats, tailored to your organization’s needs.

Open Communications Programs for Mission-Driven Work

The open communications model rethinks how mission-driven organizations run communications—shifting from closed departments to open, community-led programs. (Staff, volunteers, and community members co-create content, share stories, and advance the mission together)

This communications model began at Open Library, the world’s largest community-led digital library, where it continues today serving more than 12 million global patrons. The work earned Nick the title of Communications Lead Fellow & Emeritus.

Designed for organizations that want to scale visibility, invite broad participation, and build authentic community ownership—without needing a large communications staff.

For a detailed case study of this program in action, see Nick’s work at Open Library Explore Case Study →

High-Level Engagement & Relationship Building

This isn’t networking. It’s strategic visibility: you’ll learn how to enter the room, connect with executives, industry leaders, and decision-makers, and understand the channels they actually move through—far beyond LinkedIn or résumés.

With that initial foundation, you'll then learn how to build trust, form collaborations, and create the momentum that expands influence across sectors and prepares you for global reach.

Designed for entrepreneurs, career professionals, and leaders who want to grow their networks, build social capital, and globally scale their impact.

Resilience in Work and Life

This talk draws on Nick’s lived experience of overcoming a traumatic brain injury and developing healthy ways to manage anxiety and agoraphobia, all while contributing to global projects and programs and building trusted relationships.

Audiences walk away with simple, practical strategies to stay steady in tough times, build supportive routines, and keep moving forward—at work and in life.

Designed for organizations, conferences, and leadership programs that want to inspire resilience, strengthen inclusion, and equip their teams to thrive in the face of challenge.

Work With Nick

Nick is available for consulting, strategic projects, and long-term collaborations. Please complete the secure form below to message him.
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The Open Community Communications Model
High-Level Engagement & Relationship Building
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