The Speaker & Coach
Nick is a gold medal athlete.  He is an expert at changing lives and activating people.  Most recently, he was inducted into Wrestling Canada’s Hall of Fame.  These would be extraordinary achievements for anyone – in Nick’s case, he had the added challenge of growing up in foster care.

Not only has Nick never let challenges stand in his way, he has actually found a way to turn them around to fuel his success – first in his athletic career and now in his professional career as a Speaker, Coach, Mentor and Advisor to high achievers.

His balance of work, life and pursuit of goals has taken remarkable focus and discipline, converting physical and mental challenges into motivation for success. That is exactly the reason he pursued his passion of starting a speaking and training business, and that same message he shares with audiences all over the world. Nick’s principles translate perfectly into life as well as business, inspiring improvement and peak performance in everyone – from leadership and management to everyday employees, from athletes to non-athletes, and from students to adults.

The Entrepreneur
Today, Internationally acclaimed Nick Ugoalah is the official Founder of UGO High Performance Consulting Inc, which delivers innovative motivational leadership programs for Executives, companies, and organizations across the country. He is also the founder of UGOFIT which was born out of the recognition that a fierce body could only be stronger with a fierce mentality, and provides personal training and life style coaching to help clients achieve maximum performance in the world of life, business and sport.

In addition to governing the two brands Ugoalah organizes an annual nation-wide school tour that focuses on empowering and igniting young leaders to make positive life choices, to excel. He equips young people with the tools to succeed in today’s competitive business environment. Nick was also a former co-host on the Fitness Files segment on the BCTV morning news; he shared tips on exercise, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. 

He holds a BSc from Brock University and an MBA from Royal Roads University, along with a graduate certificate in executive coaching. Nick is currently working on his masters certification in Neuro-linguistics programming (NLP).

The Athlete
Nick attended Brock University where he did NOT make the wrestling team the first time out. He tried again the following year and did make the team, and he won the National championship. Nick’s many athletic achievements include:  His standing as a 6 time world team member for Canada, multiple times National Champion, 2 time Olympic Trials Champion, 3 time pan American championships medalist and a Commonwealth Games gold medalist. As a coach, Nick has worked with and produced UFC competitors, and world champions in Mixed Martial Arts, as well as an Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medalist in wrestling. Nick is in the Brock University Athletic Hall of Fame and for his accomplishments representing Canada in wrestling worldwide, was inducted to the Wrestling Canada Hall of Fame. Nick also received the African Canadian Achievement Awards (ACAA) of Excellence for his accomplishments in Sport.

The Person and Advocate
Nick is featured, as a spokesperson for Ontario’s “I am Your Children’s Aid Society” campaign highlighting the success stories of youth in care. In 2008, Nick was awarded an honorary youth Canada membership in recognition of his outstanding achievements and efforts to improve the lives of children and youth in care. Nick helped establish the Family and Children’s services bursary program which has now awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to youth in care over the years.

He has overcome much to succeed and to become a leader, giving back to his community. Nick’s community contributions and achievements have been recognized by Ignite the Spark Fund: he was honored as a luminary alongside entertainment and business icons Arlene Dickinson, of TV’s Dragon’s Den and Canadian television royalty, Colin Mochrie, and Andrea Martin. The African Canadian Achievement Awards in Toronto for his achievements and contributions in sport and community. Nick was invited back to Nigeria, where he was born, for a great honor, his Coronation as Chief Ikuku. Ikuku means ‘air,’ as in ‘air gives life.’

Nick sits on several boards, one of which is the Coast Social Enterprise board of Coast Mental Health. He is the author of “Whatever It Takes,” a guide to the strategies and attitudes needed to discover your inner greatness and find success in all aspects of your life.

Nick’s athletic career, business ventures and advocacy efforts have taken him to more than 45 countries around the world.  He now resides in British Columbia where he is now raising his own family.