Nikki first began teaching at successful guitar shops in Los Angeles in 2005. In 2010 she bought a struggling music store in Montana and flipped it into a full line retail store. It was here she met Jason Newsted, formerly of Metallica, who mentored her on the bass and live performance. She then went on to work with Fender Play and many other top industry brands, such as ESP Guitars and Earthquaker. A favorite musical accomplishment of hers was performing in The Go-Go's musical Head Over Heels.