From First-Gen Dreams to "The Night Agent": How Nicole Tossou is Shaping TV

As Head of TV at Project X Entertainment, NICOLE TOSSOU is known for executive producing the Netflix hit series, "The Night Agent."

What inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?

Growing up, I watched a lot of TV and rarely saw people who looked like me or who had a similar background.

My family’s from West Africa. I’m first-gen. All I really had was All American Girl – an older Margaret Cho show about a multigenerational family.

So, I knew I wanted to work in the industry. I thought I could create something similar, but from the perspective of a first-gen American with an African background.

I was also a huge sci-fi and fantasy nerd, and again, I didn’t see characters who looked like me in those genres. I always would think, “What would a show about a black vampire slayer look like?”

I wanted to create shows that made people dream and feel seen.

It’s so incredible that your first executive producer credit is on the hit Netflix series, “The Night Agent!” What was your reaction to its success, and what have you learned from working on the show?

It was nuts! The show was #1 in 80 countries and got renewed in four days.

I didn’t expect to be an executive producer on a hit show so early in my career.

I’ve learned that it’s one thing to be really good creatively, but it’s another thing to be really good at talent management, strategy, and having a business mindset.

How would you describe your leadership style?

As a leader, I recognize that I can only be as good as the people working with me.

For me, it’s really important that I empower my team and enable them to take initiative. In this industry, you really have to learn by doing.

So, I try to avoid micromanaging, and instead, act more like a big sister who’s there to guide and support.

What challenges have you had to overcome as a woman of color leading in a predominantly male industry?

I’ve been underestimated a lot. Very early on, I received some feedback where it felt like I had to dim my light.

But as a woman of color, I can’t help but be me.

I still let people underestimate me, and I use others’ biases to my advantage and let my work speak for itself.

Looking ahead, what changes would you like to see in the industry to promote diversity in leadership and storytelling?

We’ve been saying this for years. We need more inclusivity.

We need more people who look like us and talk like us making the decisions internally. 

In terms of stories, I would like people to take more risks– well, they’re barely risks!

I just mean that people are hesitant to explore new angles. Why can’t we have something like a romantasy that’s rooted in juju from New Orleans? We’ve seen how successful romantasy can be with “Outlander.”

“The Night Agent” is based on a book, and your team is currently developing "Bloom County” for FOX, which is based on a comic strip. What makes IP (Intellectual Property) stand out to you and want to bring it to life?

For me, the IP has to feel familiar, yet different. I always think, “What’s the way in? How can I develop it and offer a different perspective?”

There are two things I look for in IP: interesting worlds and unique characters. Everything on our slate has one or the other, or a mix of both.

I look for worlds that I’m curious about.

If it’s a world we haven’t seen before, I’m all in. But if it is a world we’ve seen before, then how is the character different or how can we present a unique perspective?

Years ago, I read an article about jōhatsu, a phenomenon in Japan where people voluntarily disappear, due to shame they caused their family or another negative reason. Then, I read a statistic that said, “Out of every 100 people that disappear, 97 are men.”

I thought, “Well, that means for every 100 people, there’s 3 women. What would lead a woman to disappear?”

So, instead of typically centering on men, I prefer to shift the focus to a woman’s perspective.

With the demands of being a producer and executive, how do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?

The environment I’m in really supports it. Everyone on my team values a good work-life balance and spending time with their families, which encourages me to do the same.

Setting boundaries is very important. I try not to work on weekends, because that’s my time with my daughter and husband.

That schedule makes me a better producer, because I make my days at work count.

I’m a person of faith. I know that my identity is not tied to my job. When I introduce myself, I most likely lead with, “My name’s Nicole, I’m a wife, a mother, a TV fan, and then I’m a producer.”

What advice do you have for young women working in the entertainment industry?

I suggest writing everything down, being very clear about what you want to do, and being open to the possibility of that changing over time.

Also, when you’re interviewing for jobs, interview the people too. Figure out what their work culture is like.

If they work constantly and never go home or live life, you don’t want to be in that environment, because it’s likely you’ll be expected to do the same.

If it’s an environment where people work hard, but also enjoy being with their families and taking breaks, that’s where you want to be: a place where you can learn, feel supported, and where people will want to hear your ideas.

Lastly, this industry is not meant for everyone, and it’s okay to let it go.

If it’s not making you happy, don’t feel like you have to stick with it. Pay attention to your instincts and listen to your gut.