Nikki R. Lanier

Nikki Lanier's commitment to advancing equity and multicultural workplaces isn't just a career choice—it's in her DNA. Born into a family deeply rooted in the civil rights movement, Lanier's upbringing on the campus of Hampton University instilled in her a profound sense of duty to champion the rights of black communities. As a three-time Chief Human Resources Officer in both the private and public sectors and a former executive with the Federal Reserve, Lanier is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, and thought leader on the future of work, race, and economics.

Now, as CEO and founder of Harper Slade one of the fastest-growing and most highly recognized race, inclusion, equity, & diversity advisory firms in the country, her work focuses on helping organizations cultivate environments where black and brown talent can thrive. Lanier has also founded a global coaching program for “inclined” white women who want to become better racial equity advocates in their homes, workplaces, and communities.

In recognition of her leadership, Lanier was named 2025 Enterprising Women of the Year, 100 Women To Know in America in 2024 and has been honored as a 2024 Director to Watch by Directors and Boards Magazine. Her career spans diverse industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and consulting, with executive roles at organizations like Philip Morris USA, Georgia Pacific, ADP, Maricopa Community Colleges, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where she was the youngest and first black women appointed to the Cabinet in the state’s history. She has managed operational budgets exceeding $60M and led HR departments of over 200 professionals, serving employee populations as large as 33,000.

Featured in Ebony Media, Forbes, Essence, USA Today, CNBC, PBS, Today’s Woman, Tops Magazine and countless podcasts, Lanier earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Hampton University and holds a certification in Collective Bargaining from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations