Exploring Life & Business with Nicole Holloway of Petillier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Holloway.

Hi Nicole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Honestly, Petillier came out of a season of my life when I realized I had spent a lot of years simply doing what I needed to do to keep moving forward.

I’ve been working since I was 16. For most of my adult life, there was always something that needed to be handled—a job, a bill, a responsibility, something or someone that needed my attention. And I think, like a lot of people, I got very good at surviving. You work, you take care of what needs to be taken care of, you keep your head above water, and you tell yourself you’ll make room for the bigger dreams later.

Then I found myself with an unexpected opportunity to stop and really think about what later could look like for me.

For the first time in a long time, I started giving myself permission to dream—not just about what I could do for someone else, but about what I could actually build for myself.

I’ve always loved dogs, and Nyla has obviously been a huge part of my world. I also love travel and the feeling of being somewhere beautiful and having someone take care of the details. Eventually, those two things started coming together in my mind. I began thinking about how stressful traveling with a pet can be and how much easier it could feel if someone knowledgeable handled the details for you.

And that little idea became Petillier.

What I love most about this chapter is that I’m not just starting a company. I’m learning what it feels like to build something that belongs to me. Something that started with a dream and slowly became a real business.

I’m still figuring things out, and honestly, I think that’s part of the fun. But after spending so many years focused on making sure everything was okay, there’s something really special about finally asking myself, What if I let myself want something bigger?

Petillier is my answer to that question.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges has actually been changing my mindset. When you’ve spent most of your career working in corporate America, you’re used to having someone tell you what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and when it’s expected to be finished. You have a structure around you.

When you become the founder, that structure becomes your responsibility. You realize that if you don’t take action, nothing moves. There isn’t someone coming behind you saying, “Did you finish that?” You have to be the person who creates the momentum.

I’m also stepping into an industry that is new to me. Learning the travel and logistics side of the business and making sure I’m truly knowledgeable about my craft has been exciting, but it’s also been a lot. There’s a lot to learn, and I’ve had to become comfortable being a beginner again.

And then there’s the emotional side of it, which I don’t think people always talk about. There have definitely been moments when I’ve cried, moments when I’ve been incredibly excited, and moments when I’ve wondered, What if this doesn’t work? Am I crazy? Should I just go get another job?

There’s a lot of self-talk that comes with building something from the ground up. You have to learn how to quiet the doubt and keep moving anyway.

I’ve realized that one of the most important parts of being an entrepreneur is learning to be your own cheerleader. You can’t always wait for somebody else to tell you that you’re doing a good job or pat you on the back. Sometimes you have to give that to yourself.

So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But I’m learning to keep showing up for myself, especially on the days when it’s hard.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Petillier ?
Petillier is a luxury pet travel concierge designed around one simple idea: traveling with your pet shouldn’t have to feel overwhelming.

I created Petillier for people who love their pets deeply but don’t necessarily want to become experts in airline policies, health certificates, destination requirements, timelines, documentation, and all the little details that come with getting a pet from one place to another.

What makes Petillier different is that we’re not simply arranging transportation. We’re creating a more thoughtful, personalized experience around the entire journey. Depending on what a client needs, that can mean helping them understand their options, planning the logistics, coordinating the details, preparing for travel, or managing a more complicated domestic or international move from beginning to end.

I’m especially interested in the space where luxury service meets genuine care. To me, concierge service isn’t about being flashy. It’s about making someone feel like they’ve been taken care of. When you’re traveling with a member of your family who can’t tell you what’s happening or what they need, that feeling of having someone knowledgeable in your corner becomes even more important.

I’m also very intentional about the kind of brand I want Petillier to be. I want it to feel elevated and beautiful, but never cold or overly formal. There should be warmth behind the luxury. At the end of the day, we’re talking about people’s pets—animals they love, worry about, celebrate, and consider part of their families.

I’m proud that Petillier is being built around that philosophy. We’re not just moving pets from Point A to Point B. We’re helping people navigate an experience that can be complicated, emotional, and sometimes stressful, with more confidence and peace of mind.

And I think that’s ultimately what I want people to remember about Petillier: luxury isn’t just about how something looks. It’s about how someone feels while they’re being taken care of.

What’s next?
I think my plans for the future are really about having a brighter outlook on life and allowing myself to be excited about what’s ahead. Petillier is obviously a huge part of that, and my hope is that it becomes incredibly successful, but my vision for the future is bigger than the business.

I’m in the last year of my 40s, and I’m actually really excited about turning 50. I don’t see it as something to be nervous about. I see it as the beginning of a completely new decade and, in many ways, a new chapter of understanding who I am and who I want to become.

I’m looking forward to exploring that version of myself—not just personally, but as a businesswoman and as someone who is finally giving herself permission to think bigger about her life.

Of course, I want Petillier to grow and succeed. I want to build something that I’m proud of and that has a life beyond just me.

But I also want to enjoy the journey. I want to travel, experience new things, continue learning, and really be present for this next chapter instead of always feeling like I’m preparing for the next thing.

More than anything, I’m looking forward to my 50s with a sense of possibility. I spent a lot of my earlier years figuring out how to get through life. Now I want to spend this next decade figuring out what I can create with it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.petillier.com
• Instagram: @petillier_
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-holloway-007268432