We’re incredibly proud to announce that Noble’s Chief Operating Officer and co-founder, Season Lopiccolo, has been named to Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500.
This annual list honors the most dynamic women entrepreneurs in the United States who are shaping the future of their industries through innovation and resilience. The 2026 honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in revenue in 2025, underscoring the massive economic impact of women-led businesses.
Rightfully, Season joins a prestigious group of winners, including icons like Billie Jean King and Serena Williams.
A Legacy of Strategic Growth
Season’s journey with Noble Studios began in 2003 when she and Jarrod Lopiccolo founded the agency in Carson City. Early in the company’s history, Season recognized that the agency was hitting a ceiling in its original location. Identifying the limitations of the local business landscape, she was instrumental in the strategic move to Reno. This shift provided the agency with a higher ceiling for growth, better access to university talent and a premium workspace to reward the team.
Under her leadership, the agency has maintained an incredible upward trajectory. Noble Studios has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies five years in a row, a feat that led to Season being honored as the SBA Nevada Small Business Person of the Year.
Her commitment to high-performance culture earned the agency back-to-back recognition as an Inc. Best in Business honoree for 2024 and 2025. Additionally, Noble was named an Ad Age Best Place to Work in 2024, 2025 and 2026. This year, the agency achieved double-digit revenue growth while Season future-proofed the team by adding a Head of AI Strategy to her `Operations department.
The “Kind, Not Nice” Philosophy
Season’s leadership style was forged in the high-pressure world of corporate agencies where toxicity was often the norm. Having seen the damage that “polite” but shallow environments do to people, she was determined to build something different at Noble Studios. She created the core principle “Kind Not Nice” to set a higher standard for how we treat one another.
To Season, being “kind” is much more powerful than being “nice.” While being nice is often just about being polite, being kind involves a deep investment in someone’s growth. It means having the guts to give honest, direct feedback because you actually care about a person’s future.
She spends much of her time mentoring high performers, helping them navigate the heavy pressures of agency life while reminding them of the big-picture wins they often overlook.
Radical Advocacy for Well-being
For Season, family is a non-negotiable value. She championed the initiative to provide 100% medical coverage for all full-time employees and their dependents because she knows that family security is the foundation for doing good work.
To combat burnout, common in our industry, she championed “Family Week” and “Independence Week,” during which the entire agency unplugs at the same time. This ensures no one feels the “guilt” of a full inbox while trying to rest. Season is often the one holding the team accountable to their own boundaries, telling employees to log off and stop checking in when they are on vacation.
Impact Beyond the Office
Season’s vision also extends to the community. Under her guidance, the Noble Deeds philanthropic program began 13 years ago to serve Nevada nonprofits and expanded nationally this year. This growth is anchored by a landmark partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County, helping the organization bridge cultural gaps and empower the next generation of leaders in Northern Indiana. Since the Noble Deeds program was founded, nearly $2 million in services have been donated to nonprofits.
“My focus has always been on building the systems and support that allow people to grow,” says Lopiccolo. “By fortifying our leadership structures and protecting the personal lives of our team, we have built a foundation where people can unlock the best versions of themselves and actually thrive.”
About the Award
Inc. editors evaluate applications through a multi-round selection process based on quantitative metrics like revenue and growth, as well as qualitative factors such as innovation and social impact. Several honorees will be featured in the Spring print issue of Inc. magazine on newsstands March 17, 2026.
