Preston Hollow neighbor Nicole Small has been selected by Texas Woman’s University as the 2025 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award honoree.

The award was established in 2002 to honor the contributions of Virginia Chandler Dykes, a TWU alumna, donor and board of regents member. According to a Jan. 17 statement, the award is presented annually to “a Dallas leader who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving the quality of life in the community and to furthering the importance of education.”

Photo courtesy of Texas Woman’s University.

Since 2014, Small has been the CEO of LH Capital, Inc. and Lyda Hill Philanthropies, which work to fund advances in science and nature, invest in nonprofits and support local communities.

In this role, Small co-founded the IF/THEN initiative, which seeks to inspire young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. IF/THEN is dedicated to elevating women in STEM as role models and offering positive portrayals of women in STEM through media and learning experiences.

Before coming to LH, Small served as the CEO of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. She played a key role in the museum’s creation, helping to raise the over $200 million needed to bring together the Dallas Museum of Natural History, the Science Place and the Dallas Children’s Museum.

Small’s career has been as varied as it is impressive. After earning a degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Small founded a tech startup, worked as an analyst at McKinsey & Co. and more. According to TWU, she currently sits on the boards of Southwestern Medical Foundation, The Hockaday School, UTSW President’s Advisory Board and Texas 2036.

The award will be presented to Small at the annual Dallas Leadership Luncheon on March 6 at The Arts District Mansion. Individual tickets and table sponsorships can be purchased here. For more information about the luncheon or to request a sponsorship brochure, visit twu.edu/DallasLeadership.

In a statement announcing her selection as honoree, Small said, “I stand on the shoulders of great leaders, and those around me, who supported me in my opportunity to be involved in this work.”

Small resides in Preston Hollow with her husband, two daughters and two dogs.