Nichole Harmon-Pointdujour Talks Her "In The Room" Event

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” but Nichole Harmon-Pointdujour is taking that message a step further by making sure entrepreneurs actually have access to the people making the decisions.

BOSSIP’s Liz Smith recently sat down with Nichole Harmon-Pointdujour, known as the “Master Connector,” to discuss her transition from Wall Street to entrepreneurship, navigating corporate spaces as a Black woman, her new book The Master Connector, and the inspiration behind her growing In the Room event series.

After spending 21 years on Wall Street as an investment banker and equity trader, including five years leading national partnerships at JPMorgan Chase, Nichole realized she had been given access to spaces most people never see.

“So my background I was on Wall Street for 21 years as an investment banker and an equity trader. And in the last five years, I was head of national partnerships at JPMorgan Chase,” she explained. “And so with that, being a vice president and being an equity trader in New York, I was invited to a lot of closed door conversations, just a lot of rooms that most people didn’t know about. So this all came from God. He said you’re going to bring them all together in one room and build this community.”

And that is exactly what she did.

In the Room was created to bridge the gap between corporate executives and entrepreneurs searching for funding, sponsorship opportunities, resources, and real business knowledge. Instead of another networking event where attendees exchange business cards and hope for the best, Nichole intentionally fills the room with people who can actually make things happen.

Her past featured guests have included Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, Yandy Smith-Harris, Dr. Eric Thomas and Angela Yee. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former Mayor Kasim Reed have also supported the series.

“At each event, I interview a multimillionaire that has made it to tell their story,” Nichole said.

The next In the Room takes place October 15 at Prime on Peachtree in Atlanta and features powerhouse executive Valeisha Butterfield.

“Valeisha Butterfield is a powerhouse. She used to work for Obama. She was the head of D&I at Google. She’s on the board of the Grammy. She’s on the board of Clark Atlanta. And she supports me and can really help those with their business who will be in the room.”

Nichole has also secured major corporate partners including Amazon, Puma, Truist, Northwestern Mutual and JPMorgan Chase, something she credits to her network and, frankly, having the audacity to ask.

Each sponsor is expected to bring corporate executives into the space, giving entrepreneurs direct access to decision-makers.

“This event is different because it’s the fact that you’re getting access to the decision makers at these major institutions.”

That confidence was built long before entrepreneurship. Nichole recalled entering JPMorgan’s investment banking program despite coming from a different background than many of her peers.

“I had to go through 13 interviews. Everyone there went to Ivy League: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, typically white males,” she said. “But I survived. I knew I was smart and never had imposter syndrome. I knew I was supposed to be in that room and figure things out.”

Now she is teaching others how to do the same.

Her biggest networking lessons are simple: lead with value, do good work, and follow up. Nichole recommends reconnecting within 24 to 72 hours after meeting someone, even sending a photo from the interaction to help jog their memory.

And for Bossip readers ready to get in the room themselves, Nichole is offering 10% off tickets with code BOSSIP10.

Because sometimes one introduction really can change everything.