Nikoa Evans is a trusted strategic advisor with over thirty years’ experience in marketing, brand positioning, and building infrastructure and economic eco-systems for entrepreneurs in diverse communities. Her consultancy has advised national brands, retail developers, entrepreneurs and economic development corporations on market entry strategy, consumer engagement, business development and commercial revitalization strategies in emerging U.S. markets. Past and present clients include national brands Uber, Uber Eats, Hendrick’s Gin, Jack Daniel’s, Whole Foods Market, and the economic development corporation Harlem Park to Park (HP2P) for which Nikoa has served as a founding board member, strategic consultant, and Executive Director for 13 years. Under her leadership, Harlem Park to Park, representing 300+ entrepreneurs, has created and implemented results driven strategic initiatives designed to integrate Culture, Community and Commerce. Successes include the creation of small business accelerator, Harlem Local Vendor Program in partnership with Whole Foods Market and Columbia Business School; as well as signature marketing and community engagement programs including Harlem Restaurant Week. Nikoa also served as the community consultant and executive producer of the award-winning outdoor dining program The Renaissance Pavilion at Strivers Row presented in partnership with Uber Eats; the commission and public art installation of the Black Lives Matter Harlem Street Mural; and strategic partner and Steering Committee member for Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s Harlem EatUp! Food Festival.   An accomplished culture and lifestyle entrepreneur, Nikoa is a co-founder of the Harlem Festival of Culture, a national music festival and social impact initiative inspired by the Oscar and Grammy Award winning documentary Summer of Soul directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.  Nikoa is also a co-founder and managing partner of Counter Culture Hospitality Group, owner of restaurant brands: Sexy Taco and former Ruby’s Vintage Harlem restaurant and bars.   She has been featured in Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone, Variety, The Root, New York Times, Architectural Digest, New York Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, USA Today, NBC News, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, Eater NY, Food Network’s Savoring Harlem, and other top publications and media outlets. Nikoa is a recent keynote speaker for TED Talk; a recipient of City & State’s “Responsible 100” award and was presented with a New York State Senate Proclamation by former NYS Senator in honor of her exemplary service to the Harlem community and NY state.  Evans received her B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and lives in New York City with her husband, Garrett Lee Hendricks, a writer, producer, and actor in theater, television and film. They have a daughter named Zuri Alija.