Nichole Daher, Founder and CEO of Success On The Spectrum (SOS), is spearheading a movement to transform the landscape of autism therapy across the United States. Her organization is built on a powerful mission: to support aspiring business owners in opening their own ABA therapy centers while ensuring children on the autism spectrum receive high-quality, individualized care. Through a comprehensive support model, SOS helps new franchisees with everything from legal structuring and location setup to staff recruitment, training, and insurance processes.

Nichole’s path to entrepreneurship was not a traditional one. Before entering the business world, she worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, performing advanced diagnostic imaging for cancer patients. But it was her personal life that ultimately inspired her to pursue a new mission. After marrying and becoming a stepmother to a young girl with autism, Nichole experienced firsthand the gaps in therapy services for older children.

When her stepdaughter was dismissed from an ABA therapy center at just seven years old, Nichole realized that many facilities were not designed to accommodate children beyond early childhood. This experience ignited a passion in her to address a widespread issue, only a fraction of autistic children in the U.S. were receiving the services they needed.

Fueled by a desire to create long-lasting change, Nichole envisioned an inclusive ABA center that welcomed children of all ages and backgrounds. Her vision grew beyond one location. She set out to build a national network of centers through franchising, designed to empower local ownership while delivering consistent, high-quality care.

Raising the Bar in ABA Therapy

Until 2018, the ABA therapy industry was largely controlled by private equity firms. Large-scale operators focused heavily on profitability, often resulting in overburdened staff, limited family engagement, and a decline in service quality. This model, driven by efficiency rather than care, left many families underserved.

Nichole launched Success On The Spectrum to challenge that norm. As the first autism treatment franchise in the country, SOS introduced a new model—one where care quality takes precedence over investor returns. SOS centers offer a range of services for children with developmental delays, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy, and occupational therapy.

Unlike many corporate-run centers, each SOS location is family-operated, allowing for personalized attention while benefiting from centralized systems, operational support, training resources, and quality assurance. This balance of consistency and community-level ownership gives SOS its unique edge. The brand is setting a new benchmark for how autism services can be delivered: ethically, effectively, and with empathy.

Defining Leadership Through Flexibility and Support

Nichole’s leadership philosophy is rooted in openness and adaptability. She believes strong leaders must be willing to reconsider their perspectives when presented with new information. In her words, growth depends on the ability to admit when you’re wrong and change course when needed. This mindset keeps her leadership aligned with evolving industry demands and community needs.

Her approach to leadership is also deeply collaborative. Rather than dictating decisions from the top, Nichole involves her team in goal-setting and strategy development. By fostering a sense of ownership and engagement, she ensures that each team member is invested in the success of the organization.

Supporting each franchise location is a personal priority. Nichole and her team provide hands-on guidance during every phase of a new center’s launch. From operational advice to marketing strategies, she makes sure no franchisee feels alone in the journey.

Optimizing Operations Through Innovation

Managing a medical practice involves a complex web of responsibilities. To maintain operational clarity across locations, Nichole developed a proprietary software platform that streamlines workflows and ensures every center remains organized and accountable. Her model encourages team-wide participation, reducing the burden on individual administrators and ensuring that critical protocols are consistently followed.

This system-driven approach has allowed SOS to scale efficiently while maintaining the personal touch that families value. The balance of innovation and hands-on support reflects Nichole’s long-term vision for the company.

Navigating Risk with Vision

One of the most significant risks Nichole ever took was founding a franchise system without prior experience in the field. She entered uncharted territory, relying on expert guidance and research to build her operations manual and create a scalable business model. That bold step laid the foundation for what is now a fast-growing national network.

Looking ahead, Nichole envisions Success On The Spectrum operating over 200 locations nationwide. Her goal is to reach thousands of families, offering hope and support to children who are too often overlooked by the traditional care system. For Nichole, the ultimate reward is seeing children once at risk of being institutionalized develop the skills and confidence to live independently, hold jobs, and form meaningful relationships.

Guiding the Next Generation of Women Leaders

When asked about female leadership, Nichole emphasizes the importance of adaptability and self-awareness. One area where she sees opportunity for growth among emerging women leaders is the willingness to revise ideas or plans in light of new evidence. She notes that fear of being wrong can sometimes prevent progress, and encourages future leaders to embrace learning as a constant.

Nichole also highlights the value of inclusive leadership, where team members are invited to contribute their perspectives. In her experience, decisions made collaboratively are more likely to be executed with passion and accountability.

A Lasting Impact

Nichole Daher’s journey reflects a powerful combination of personal purpose and professional grit. Through Success On The Spectrum, she is reshaping the narrative around autism therapy and proving that ethical business practices can coexist with sustainable growth. Her legacy is one of empowerment, not only for the children and families she serves but also for the entrepreneurs she mentors and the leaders she inspires.