It was 1985. I applied through the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC to study law in China. I was accepted for graduate study at China People's University in Beijing. After 5 years of studying Chinese, I was finally headed to China. Rather than elation, my relatives expressed concern for my well being and mental health. I was from a small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and going to Beijing seemed just short of flying to the moon.

Join us for our fall Social Impact event featuring Jean Becker. Jean is a two-time author, former chief of staff for George H.W. Bush, deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush, newspaper reporter, and board member for the Points of Light Foundation.

Become part of a supportive, women-focused community and collaborative workspace today!

Simply sign up for a 6-month Community Membership, and we’ll add a complimentary 1-Month ALL ACCESS plan to your account. You'll have unlimited co-working use - stay an hour for a meeting, connect with a friend for coffee, or take the day to plow through your to-do list.

This offer ends October 6.

It has been quite a journey getting into the real estate industry, but, in all honesty, that process was haphazard. People are drawn to this field for a variety of reasons and from differing backgrounds. It has always been intriguing to interact with my peers and ask about their path, because you will never hear the same story twice.

"Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11."

—President Obama in a 2011 radio address

It’s time to get the space and support you need, and our fall promotion gets you one-month of FREE ALL ACCESS Membership when you sign up as a 6-Month Community Member.

PLUS, if you upgrade to ALL ACCESS membership at the end of your unlimited month, you’ll get a complimentary Co-Co swag bag!

Nicole Smith is rooted in the value of volunteerism. She has been the champion and cheerleader for the NJ Chapter of the global literacy organization Room to Read for over a decade. This endeavor led to a weekly radio show/podcast through the Hunterdon Chamber of Commerce called Happy to Help, focused on the benefits of giving back to others. She has conducted over 120 interviews with philanthropists, fundraisers, directors and authors.

In late 2017, a group of women from Summit, Short Hills, Madison, and Chatham first met to explore the idea of a supportive, women’s-focused community and workspace in NJ. This collaborative, energizing conversation sparked the creation of The Co-Co.