From Eagle Scout to Digital Marketer: How Nick Felice Found His Perfect Match with BUILD NYC

If you ask Nick Felice about the origins of his passion for service, he'll take you back to his high school days earning the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. That early experience planted seeds that would grow throughout his career as a digital marketer—from consulting local businesses while still in college at the University of Rhode Island to crafting digital experiences for major brands like Samsung, T-Mobile, PepsiCo, and AstraZeneca.

Today, as a marketer at Manifest specializing in digital experiences, Felice has found a way to unite his professional expertise with his longstanding commitment to service through BUILD NYC's associate board. But like many young professionals, his path to meaningful board service wasn't straightforward.

The Hesitation Before the Leap

"I had thought about it but never took the leap to get involved before CariClub," Felice admits when asked about his journey to board service. His hesitation is one shared by many accomplished professionals—not a lack of interest, but an overwhelming set of options without clear guidance.

"I was overwhelmed with the amount of nonprofits, the variety of ways to get involved, and what would be expected of me on an associate board," he explains. "As a busy young professional, I wanted to be sure that I was going to be investing my time in the right organization."

This challenge—finding the perfect intersection between personal values, professional skills, and organizational fit—is precisely what keeps many talented individuals from engaging in board service. For Felice, CariClub provided the bridge across that gap, connecting him with an organization where his talents could create meaningful impact.

Mentorship Full Circle

When asked why he specifically chose BUILD NYC, Felice's answer reveals a deeply personal motivation: "I was and am still am very fortunate to have great mentors in my life and I feel it's my obligation to pay it forward."

BUILD's mission—igniting the potential of youth in under-resourced communities through entrepreneurship-based learning—aligned perfectly with both his marketing expertise and his desire to serve as a mentor.

"Being on the BUILD associate board makes it easy for me to make an impact with the youth of NYC," he says, highlighting how the right organizational match can transform service from an obligation into an opportunity.

Dual Rewards of Board Service

For Felice, the benefits of board service extend beyond the satisfaction of helping students. When asked about his favorite aspect of the experience, he offers a two-part answer that captures both the outward impact and personal growth dimensions of nonprofit leadership.

"My favorite aspect of being on BUILD's associate board is to see the impact that the organization continues to make on the students within the program," he shares first, emphasizing the tangible results that keep him engaged.

But there's a second dimension that many prospective board members might not anticipate: "I'm also grateful to be working alongside some of the smartest, motivated, and likeminded young professionals in New York City to whom I'm constantly learning from each day."

This peer learning environment—a community of accomplished professionals united by shared values—represents an often-overlooked benefit of board service. It's not just about giving back; it's about growing alongside others who challenge and inspire you.

Finding Time for What Matters

The concern that initially held Felice back—the time and financial commitment—is one that CariClub frequently addresses with prospective members. His experience offers reassurance to those with similar hesitations.

"Yes, I was worried," he acknowledges, "but after speaking with a few nonprofits and a handful of CariClub members, I realized that it was much more manageable that I originally thought."

His subsequent insight cuts to the heart of successful board service: "I quickly found out that if you have a passion for something, finding time for it is easy."

This perspective shift—from viewing board service as another obligation to seeing it as an expression of passion—transforms the experience from something that takes time to something that gives energy.

Navigating Stress While Making Impact

As a digital marketing professional in New York's fast-paced agency world, Felice has developed a philosophy for managing professional stress that complements his board service mindset.

"As stressful as things get at work some days, I'm always reminding myself of three things," he explains before sharing wisdom that applies equally well to both professional and nonprofit leadership:

"I'm doing something that I truly enjoy and I should never take that for granted. Things could be much worse.

"Stress is a temporary feeling and the more I spend focusing on how much it's inhibiting me, the less I'm doing to get rid of it.

"No one is dying on the table. This is not a life or death business so let's all take a step back and assess the correct path forward."

This grounded perspective allows him to maintain effectiveness in both realms, keeping professional challenges in proportion while creating space for meaningful service.

The Value of Discomfort

When asked what gives him value professionally, Felice's answer reveals the growth mindset that likely makes him effective in both his career and board service: "Helping a client or colleague step outside their comfort zone. It's so easy to do the same thing over and over because it works but when it comes to truly growing, we all must do what makes us uncomfortable."

This philosophy—embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth—applies perfectly to the journey many young professionals take toward board service. The initial uncertainty Felice experienced before finding BUILD through CariClub represented exactly the type of comfort zone expansion that he now values facilitating for others.

Felice's story illustrates the full-circle nature of impactful board service: from being mentored to becoming a mentor, from hesitating before the unknown to embracing growth through challenge, and from receiving guidance to providing it for the next generation of leaders.

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