I first encountered Cameroonian-born Dr. Nicoline Ambe during her pioneering webinar focused on helping parents raise high achievers. Her eloquence, wisdom and poise were remarkable, and by the end of the session I felt motivated to encourage my daughters to excel academically.
A little research revealed more about this mother of three, who lives in the United States and has been featured on major American networks including Fox, NBC and CBS. She recently lost her husband but has shown great resilience, often citing her faith as a source of strength.
Dr. Ambe is a keynote speaker, educator and bestselling author. This February she released her third book, Innate Genius: A 31-Day Student Guide To Being More Of Yourself, And Achieve Outstanding Results. I had the opportunity to interview her about the new book and the principles that guide her life. I went in planning two questions and ended up asking three.
Precious Core: What do you want anybody who picks a copy of your new book to achieve after they read it?
The title Innate Genius: A 31-Day Student Guide To Being More of Yourself and Achieve Outstanding Results reflects the heart of the book: personal success and empowerment. It focuses on helping students and parents build a healthy self-image. Too often parents reproduce the upbringing they experienced—if someone grew up without encouragement, they may unintentionally pass that pattern to their children. Words or actions (or the lack of them) from parents can shape a child’s self-esteem and productivity for years. This book invites readers to come back home to themselves and recognize the inherent genius inside them. Circumstances do not define your capability; the guide helps individuals discover and develop their own strengths.
Precious Core: You have three girls, you write, you are an educator and you give talks. How do you handle everything going on in your life at the same time?
For me, life is a balancing act. Schoolwork, career, family roles, friendships and spirituality are all important. The key is to live in a way that balances these priorities effectively.Each day I create a short list of the most important tasks—usually five items, sometimes three when my schedule is tight. I write them down and check them off as I complete them. In addition to daily goals, I maintain lifestyle habits that I don’t always list: I pray first thing in the morning, I exercise, and I choose healthy foods. These habits sustain my energy and clarity.
Health is often underestimated. Without it, thinking becomes fuzzy and energy wanes. I’ve learned that diet and regular exercise are essential to staying sharp and productive. Beyond physical health, it helps to be deliberate about the kind of person you want to be—more spiritual, a better friend, or more present with family. Conscious choices create consistency in life.
Whether I’m teaching at school or speaking at events, I apply the same standard: do the work well and stay focused without allowing distractions to interfere. That discipline enables me to maintain excellence across different roles.
Precious Core: I know I said two questions but there’s this one thing I really want to ask. You look so young and full of life yet your profile says you taught at the university for many years. I guess you are not a thirty something year old as I thought. So what keeps that glow?
A combination of factors helps me maintain my energy and youthful appearance. Physical care—diet, exercise and maintaining a healthy shape—plays a role. But the deeper reason is inward: humility, adaptability and connection with people. I relate easily to children, peers and leaders alike, and I strive to be down-to-earth. Letting my guard down, being genuine and approachable makes me feel and appear younger. My faith is also central; staying close to God keeps my priorities grounded and reminds me of what truly matters.
Get Dr. Ambe’s new book on Kindle for only $0.99.
Also available: her bestselling book Above & Beyond and her earlier work A Teacher’s Notes.
Website: www.nicolineambe.com
Photos of the interviewee are from Dr. Ambe’s Facebook page