Nick Norman

California, United States

Nick specializes in building cross-sector relationships and creating environments where people feel included and want to engage.

In every role Nick has held, from hospitality to community strategy to digital campaigns, one thing has remained constant: people are at the center. He’s built a career on knowing how to support, engage, and build trust with people from all walks of life.
Portfolio of Projects 
Here are a few global organizations and institutions Nick has supported through major projects.
He works across sectors that bridge knowledge, technology, and community—from libraries and open-source projects to social impact and emerging tech.

Explore Nick's Portfolio

Nick has built a career around people. He knows how to read a room—online or off—and build trust quickly, creating space for real connection. From supporting customers to leading community efforts, he helps people feel seen, valued, and ready to engage. He’s worked across sectors with engineers, librarians, researchers, and global institutions to build relationships and engagement that move shared goals forward.

His portfolio includes work with InnovatorMD, the Internet Archive, UC Berkeley, and the Open Library—collaborating across sectors and time zones on projects that blend innovation, digital engagement, and community impact. Recognized with an Anthem Award for advancing technology that serves the public good, he also contributed to communications work later recognized and entered into the U.S. Congressional Record.

Examples of Nick' s work include:

  • Open Library - Global Communications Program: As Communications Fellow & Lead-Emeritus, Nick established the first communications department for the world’s largest community-led digital library, serving more than 12 million patrons worldwide. Explore Case Study →

  • $3 Million Community Transitional Housing Model: Commissioned as project manager to design a scalable housing and services model in a struggling hotel, Nick led the effort from concept through launch, securing $3 million in the first month through community pledges and cross-agency partnerships. Explore Case Study →

  • UC Berkeley & Internet Archive: Contributed to the large-scale digitization of government archives at the Institute of Governmental Studies Library and the Internet Archive, advancing international access to public records and earning an Anthem Award for Best Use of Technology. Watch the Project Video→ Read the UC Berkeley feature → 

  • Internet Archive, 25th Anniversary Campaign: Helped shape a global advocacy campaign during a landmark legal challenge, producing communications that influenced public opinion and appeared in more  than forty media outlets worldwide—earning recognition from the U.S. Congress. Campaign Highlights →  TIME Magazine, Related Reading →

  • The Wayforward Machine Campaign: Part of Internet Archive’s 25th Anniversary campaign, this dystopian concept imagined the year 2046 if the Internet Archive no longer existed. Nick supported the content team, helping create an immersive social media experiment that global partners and founders participated in as it unfolded across their own channels. Explore Case Study →

  • Decentralized Web Global Convening: Co-produced a global gathering of more than 500 leaders, including technologists, lawmakers, and community pioneers, to advance the decentralized web movement and strengthen international collaboration. Read More →

Nick grew up surrounded by books. Both his parents were academic librarians, yet learning didn’t come easy for him.

In school he struggled, failing classes, getting bullied, and eventually being placed in a special program. Nick’s world changed when one teacher recognized how he learned and met him where he was, giving him the support he needed to turn failing grades into As and Bs.

That early experience sparked a curiosity that carried Nick through different learning environments and showed him how to move between worlds to find the knowledge, relationships, and opportunities that helped him grow. It led to a career rooted in crossing silos and bringing the right people together—because real progress happens when you reach beyond your immediate circle.

Case Studies & Blog Posts

Nick's writing explores the strategy behind community engagement, sustainable growth, and scaling impact across digital and global environments.

Work With Nick

Nick is available for speaking, long-term roles, and other opportunities. Please complete the form below to get in touch.
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