TWU Honors Dallas Visionary for STEM Leadership

Nicole Small

By Daniel Lalley

Dallas native Nicole Small has a mantra: “If you can see it, you can be it.”

In her case, girls can see an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and visionary recently selected to receive the 2025 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award by Texas Woman’s University. 

“Nicole’s vision and leadership have enhanced the lives of thousands of North Texas residents, and what I love the most is her efforts to highlight the magnitude of women’s contributions to STEM fields,” said Texas Woman’s Chancellor Carine Feyten. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to honor someone whose life and work so perfectly embodies the spirit of the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award and aligns with our strategic imperative at Texas Woman’s University to double the number of STEM opportunities for our students.”

Small is CEO of LH Capital Inc., Lyda Hill Philanthropies, and co-founder of the IF/THEN® Initiative, a program encouraging girls by highlighting the accomplishments of women working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“Having the good fortune to grow up in this community, I was introduced to science initiatives at UT Southwestern when I was really young,” Small said. “I had the opportunity to meet the scientists and immerse myself in that world. Since I got that education so early on, I was always interested and passionate about it. Being a Hockaday graduate, I have always been equally passionate about girls’ education. I feel strongly that young girls should see themselves in the roles and opportunities that are out there.” 

From co-founding IF/THEN to helping curate and spotlight female scientists in the halls of the Perot Museum, where she was CEO, Small has made it an imperative to demonstrate possibilities for the next generation. 

“We want to make sure we’re meeting girls where they are,” Small said. “By showing them there are STEM opportunities associated with any of their passions, from sports to technology, we’re connecting them to career paths they can actually get excited about.” 

Receiving the Virginia Dykes Leadership Award will underscore the significance of Small’s contributions not just to the Dallas community, but to the evolution of science and STEM as well. By exposing a diverse set of minds to these concepts and spaces, she’s introducing all-new perspectives, insights, and solutions to the future of STEM and science. 

“We have the most amazing kids in Dallas,” Small said. “From the young kids to high school and the amazing women who will also be honored with me at the Dallas Leadership luncheon, there is so much hope for the future. I think we as a community should remain supportive of each and every one of them because, from what I can see, they all have the ability to solve the toughest problems and the potential to change the world.”