This March, in honor of Women’s History Month, more than 150 women across Orange County gathered in Irvine to be recognized for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to a more sustainable future. The occasion? The 5th Annual Women Making a Difference Awards, hosted by Orange County Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley. Among this year’s honorees was Nicole Stanfield of Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD), recognized for her values-driven leadership, dedication to transparency, and meaningful engagement with the community she serves.
Nicole, who has worked at SMWD for the past 10 years and has been part of the Ladera Ranch community since 2017, shared what this award meant to her and her family. “I love serving this community and the people I work with. I live, eat, and breathe in the same community, so it felt very personal,” Nicole reflects. She continues, “Water is personal; it’s part of everyone’s life every single day. SMWD has a team of 200 professionals working around the clock to deliver high-quality, reliable drinking water and manage wastewater responsibly. The more we can share what goes into that, the more trust we build with our customers and community.”
Becoming a leader doesn’t happen overnight, and Nicole recognizes that leaning into your own strengths—while building a team that complements your leadership style—is key. When people feel supported and valued for their unique perspectives, they’re more likely to collaborate, trust one another, and truly thrive.
In honor of Mother’s Day, Nicole explains how motherhood has influenced her approach to leading, both at work and at home. “Becoming a mom changed my perspective in the best way. It made me more empathetic, more patient, and more grounded in what really matters. And it definitely gave me a new appreciation for how unpredictable life can be. There are weeks when someone has the flu, another ends up in the ER for stitches, and everything in between. “At work, that’s shaped how I lead. I try to create a culture of trust where people feel supported as whole humans and empowered to do their best work. And at home, it’s made me value that time so much more. It reminds me to be present and appreciate those moments, and it’s a big part of why having purposeful work matters to me,” she notes.
