Culture | Jun. 2026
TRENDING: THE NEXT CHAPTER
By Morgan Hogerty
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIA PONCE
Nicki Perchik
Business founder, two-time author, mom, and wife, NICKI PERCHIK recently stepped back from her full-time career to pursue a passion project: a book series aimed at the problems of declining literacy rates, rising tween anxiety, and screen dependency. For nearly two decades, Perchik built a career helping people and organizations thrive. As Founder and CEO of The NLP Group, a boutique executive search firm, she partnered with hundreds of companies to recruit leadership talent while guiding thousands of professionals through pivotal career moments. That front-row seat to the hiring process also revealed the common missteps that derail even the most qualified candidates—insights that led her to write A Recruiter’s Truly Simple Guide to Stop F*cking Up When Job Searching & Interviewing. The practical, no-nonsense guide has since become a cornerstone of NLP’s coaching program.
More recently, Perchik has turned her focus to a younger audience. She is the creator of The Adventures of Nana Z., a humorous, fast-paced tween series designed to capture attention while reinforcing values like curiosity, resilience, kindness, and giving back. Inspired by her experience as a parent navigating the pull of electronics, the series responds to broader concerns about literacy and mental well-being. With many children struggling to develop a love of reading, Perchik aims to spark early engagement through entertaining, action-driven storytelling. Young readers are even invited to help shape future plots through interactive elements on the Nana Z. website, creating a sense of ownership and connection.
Philanthropy is woven into the core of the project. A portion of every book sold supports the local animal welfare organization Tails Together, reinforcing the idea that small actions can have meaningful impact. Perchik is also collaborating with Tails Together on initiatives that encourage children to volunteer and pursue community service—efforts that align with research showing the mental health benefits of helping others.
Whether advising executives, guiding job seekers, or inspiring kids to unplug and engage with the world around them, Perchik’s work is rooted in a consistent goal: helping people build confidence, expand opportunity, and develop a lasting sense of purpose.
ON HER NIGHTSTAND
“A crossword puzzle book and a rotating stack of titles—currently finishing Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell and reading Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson.”
ON HER MOBILE
“MasterClass sessions on creative writing, with writers like Judy Blume and James Patterson, along with a curated mix of cooking and interior design on Instagram.”
IN HER EARBUDS
“Classic rock from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s (with classical music during the workday), plus podcasts like the Founders Podcast, BigDeal by Codie Sanchez, and Dear FoundHer.“
