[6] From 1989 to 1992, she attended the University of Leeds, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English and Theatre Studies, and was active in Jewish causes.

[7][8][9] Mendelsohn originally planned to attend drama school and become an actress, but on a friend's recommendation decided to explore advertising instead.

[7][9] In 2013 she was hired as Facebook's advertising Vice President for EMEA, ending the company's half-year search to replace outgoing VP Joanna Shields.

[8][11][4][12] Mendelsohn is co-chair of the Creative Industries Council[13] and director of the Bailey's Prize for Women's Fiction.

[7][14][15] In 2015 she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the creative industries as part of the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours.

[28] Nicola launched The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation in 2019 – a charity dedicated to funding research into the disease and supporting patients.