Nicole Nadeau, a veteran HR executive with over 25 years of corporate experience, is no stranger to navigating the complexities of talent management. After dedicating decades to leading human resources—primarily in the financial services sector—Nicole made a bold move that would reshape not only her career, but potentially the way small and mid-sized organizations approach leadership development.
That pivot became Launch 360—a practical, people-focused tool designed to make 360-degree feedback accessible, affordable, and effective for growing businesses.
From Corporate HR to Passion-Driven Coaching
“I didn’t love payroll or dealing with employee grievances,” Nicole admitted in her interview. “What I loved was talent development—coaching leaders, building up teams, and identifying potential.”
Like many HR professionals, Nicole found herself spending too much time on operational tasks and too little on what she truly cared about: helping people grow. So, she left corporate HR to start a consulting and executive coaching practice, tailoring her work toward developing leaders and building high-performing teams.
But her journey as a coach revealed a critical challenge: how to quickly and accurately understand the leadership strengths and blind spots of her clients. The answer, for Nicole, was clear—begin every coaching engagement with a 360-degree review.
Creating a Better 360 Experience
A 360-degree review collects anonymous feedback from multiple perspectives: supervisors, peers, direct reports, and the individual themselves. This comprehensive input helps leaders understand how their behaviors are perceived across all levels of an organization.
“Sometimes we don’t see what we’re fabulous at,” Nicole explained. “And sometimes we have blind spots for the areas where we really need to improve.”
Nicole used 360s to uncover these insights, creating a shared foundation for coaching that was honest, constructive, and results-driven. However, she quickly discovered that most tools available on the market didn’t fit the needs of her practice—or her clients. They were either too expensive, too generic, or required hiring consultants to manage.
“There wasn’t a product that asked the questions I wanted to ask, across all the categories I wanted to focus on,” she said. “So I built my own.”
An Accidental Breakthrough
What started as a custom tool for her private coaching practice soon evolved into something much bigger. Nicole decided to casually post her self-designed 360 review tool on her consulting website. She expected a few downloads—nothing more.
To her surprise, she sold 200 assessments in the first year.
“That was the moment I realized—I’m not the only one looking for this kind of solution,” she said. The unexpected demand prompted her to step back and rethink the tool from the ground up.
Over the next year and a half, Nicole and her team refined the platform—adding automation, improving the user experience, and ensuring it could stand alone as a product. In September 2023, they officially launched Launch 360, a platform built specifically for small to mid-sized companies who need powerful leadership feedback without the overhead of traditional systems or consultants.
Making Leadership Growth Accessible
What sets Launch 360 apart is its focus on accessibility and simplicity. Companies no longer need to implement complex software or bring in outside consultants to run a 360 feedback cycle. With Launch 360, everything is plug-and-play—companies can run assessments internally, at their own pace, and at a fraction of the traditional cost.
“We’re leveling the playing field,” Nicole said. “Leadership development shouldn’t be a luxury only large corporations can afford.”
The platform guides organizations through a full 360-degree feedback process: collecting responses from supervisors, peers, and direct reports, and presenting the results in a format that’s easy to digest and act upon.
Importantly, the questions built into Launch 360 are grounded in real-world leadership competencies—the same areas Nicole focused on during her corporate HR career and now in her executive coaching. This makes the feedback immediately relevant and actionable.
Feedback That Fuels Real Change
While 360 feedback can sometimes be tough to hear, Nicole believes it’s one of the most transformative tools for leadership growth.
“It’s not always easy,” she said. “You have to take a deep breath and be willing to hear feedback—even when it challenges your self-perception. But if you’re open, it can unlock incredible growth.”
For Nicole, the goal isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s about revealing untapped potential. Leaders often don’t realize the strengths they already possess, and feedback from others helps them see how they truly impact their teams.
Looking Ahead
Today, Launch 360 is helping businesses build stronger leaders, more cohesive teams, and a culture of accountability. It’s the product of a career spent listening, learning, and leading—and a reflection of Nicole Nadeau’s belief that feedback, when delivered thoughtfully, has the power to transform careers and companies alike.
Watch the Full Interview
🎥Click here to watch the full interview with Nicole Nadeau
