Vision
The vision of NikaVika's "SisterHood StoryTelling" coaching is to engage, enlighten and empower girls of all ages through compelling storytelling connected to our four "girl power" pillars or themes: ambition, inclusion, philanthropy and vigilance.
The name NikaVika is a playful combination of the first and middle names of our CoFounder Annika Viktoria (pictured above left at age 10!). Both names derive from Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory. So, in essence, NikaVika means "WinWin."
Launched in 2018, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, NikaVika's MomDaughterTeacherStudent CoFounders were inspired by their hometown (Needham) hero Aly Raisman. In the face of extreme adversity, Aly rose up and encouraged girls from across the globe to support each other, to be role models, and to make change. Click on the (2 minute) video that brings our vision to life -- which was featured on Channel 5 in early 2019.
The vision of NikaVika's "SisterHood StoryTelling" coaching is to engage, enlighten and empower girls of all ages through compelling storytelling connected to our four "girl power" pillars or themes: ambition, inclusion, philanthropy and vigilance.
The name NikaVika is a playful combination of the first and middle names of our CoFounder Annika Viktoria (pictured above left at age 10!). Both names derive from Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory. So, in essence, NikaVika means "WinWin."
Launched in 2018, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, NikaVika's MomDaughterTeacherStudent CoFounders were inspired by their hometown (Needham) hero Aly Raisman. In the face of extreme adversity, Aly rose up and encouraged girls from across the globe to support each other, to be role models, and to make change. Click on the (2 minute) video that brings our vision to life -- which was featured on Channel 5 in early 2019.
SisterHood SpotLights (Our Coaching Process)
Guided by free coaching (see more info below on how it's free) provided by fully vetted teachers, artists, journalists, DEI colleagues and female mentors our young girls work through a range of skill-building activities including research, critical reading and writing, public-speaking and creative expression (art/film) as they develop our SisterHood SpotLights from start to finish.
Pictured below is a "neighborhood group" of girls who collaborated on a SisterHood SpotLight about inclusion and "Choosing Kind" during our launch. year in 2018.
Guided by free coaching (see more info below on how it's free) provided by fully vetted teachers, artists, journalists, DEI colleagues and female mentors our young girls work through a range of skill-building activities including research, critical reading and writing, public-speaking and creative expression (art/film) as they develop our SisterHood SpotLights from start to finish.
Pictured below is a "neighborhood group" of girls who collaborated on a SisterHood SpotLight about inclusion and "Choosing Kind" during our launch. year in 2018.
NikaVika's coaching is primarily offered at local libraries and via Zoom (2024 sign up dates coming soon!). But for 2024, we plan to expand our coaching "reach" through partnerships and coaching that can take place at:
One example of coaching content that is readily available involves our "Feeling 13" SisterHood Swiftie Project which centers on a theme of giving back and raising awareness for food insecurity, inspired by Taylor Swift's generous donations to community food pantries on her ERAs tour. Coaching activities feature local, Boston-area girls who are making change in their communities with a focus on food insecurity.
Our first set of SpotLights for 2024 will focus on the 212 women featured in the "Black Women Lead" project, launched last October by the Dorchester-based, GreaterGroveHall.Org. Learn more about this inspiring project on our landing page. We'll be adding to this section of our website every Sunday by 7pm with new features and activities.
- School: as part of the curriculum, club content or after-school programming
- After School: for teambuilding related to sports, dance, robotics, etc.
- Home: with daughters, cousins, nieces, grandchildren, neighbors, friends
One example of coaching content that is readily available involves our "Feeling 13" SisterHood Swiftie Project which centers on a theme of giving back and raising awareness for food insecurity, inspired by Taylor Swift's generous donations to community food pantries on her ERAs tour. Coaching activities feature local, Boston-area girls who are making change in their communities with a focus on food insecurity.
Our first set of SpotLights for 2024 will focus on the 212 women featured in the "Black Women Lead" project, launched last October by the Dorchester-based, GreaterGroveHall.Org. Learn more about this inspiring project on our landing page. We'll be adding to this section of our website every Sunday by 7pm with new features and activities.
Free Coaching + Partnerships
Currently, our coaching is free primarily because we are donating our time, effort and passion. This work is truly a labor of love for us.
But for 2024, we hope to turn our "side hustle" into a profitable unit within our tiny coaching company by raising significant revenue through partnerships with local companies and influencers (family, friends, neighbors).
Over the past 6 years, partnerships have ranged from $0.00 (spreading the word about our online and in-person coaching activities) to $13.00 for our Swiftie Stickers (below) to $500.00 to support our SisterHood SpotLights coaching. Check out our 2024 options under the Partnership tab above, or contact us (below) to discuss a customized program.
As a tiny company/LLC, we are striving to become a Certified B Corporation, as we believe in "doing business to do good." Since NikaVika's launch in 2018, we have donated between 25 and 50% of "partner revenue" in support of of local, empowering causes including: mental health awareness, food insecurity, breast cancer patient support, public school enrichment initiatives, girls' golf, and, most recently, for the Boston-based Black Women Lead project.
For 2024, we'll seek to expand our nonprofit partnerships, including a special focus on organizations that support diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and anti-racism.
NikaVika Co-Founders
Gretchen Miller Johnson
- Graduate of Boston College / The Lynch School of Education
- Masters Degree, Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Current Member | Milton Academy Faculty
- Founder, Miller Academy Coaching (est. 1996)
- 30+ years of sales, marketing and journalism experience
- MillerAcademyGretchen@gmail.com
- 617-513-3638 (call or text)
Annika Viktoria Johnson (AKA NikaVika)
- Needham High School Sophomore
- Girl-Power-Activist
- Avid Golfer
- SisterHood Swiftie
- NikaVikaSisterHood@gmail.com