Having worked with leading brands like Nicole Miller, Iman Cosmetics, Anheuser-Busch, Nikoa Evans-Hendricks has earned her stripes and commands our attention.
Here, the executive director and founding member of Harlem Park to Park talks goal setting, shares her inspiration, how she stays connected and where she likes to vacation.
What inspires you to go to work every day?
I feel lucky that the work that I do is something that I’m extremely passionate about. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in various positions in retail management, buying, development of retail urban-suburban shopping centers and districts, small business development, consulting, as an entrepreneur-owner of a men’s and women’s retail boutique and now as the executive director of an organization that manages small business development and marketing strategy for Harlem’s growing small business community. I love the process of building something from the conceptual stage to the end product and marketing and selling that product and vision. I love working with entrepreneurs who are visionaries and helping them build their concept and brand. It’s exciting to me. I work very hard but enjoy every minute of it.
How did you determine your career path?
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an entrepreneur and launch my own retail company with a store in New York. So every step I took in school and throughout my career was designed to obtain then necessary training to lead me that goal. When I graduated from Stanford University, I chose to enter the executive training program at Macy’s West to start my retail development career. Two years after working in management for Macy’s and The Limited, I entered Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business to obtain an MBA in marketing and brand management. After graduation, I began working for one of the largest retail shopping center developers in the country and managed new business development for fours years. That position led me to New York where I was recruited to manage a multimillion-dollar retail and restaurant development initiative in Harlem. My store, N Boutique, followed two years later and five years later I’m now the executive director of Harlem Park to Park. There was a common thread throughout my whole career. I never strayed from what I was most passionate about — retail and business development.
What role does technology play in your daily life?
Technology is a daily part of my life. In today’s world, to remain a leader in your field, you have to be plugged in at all times. This requires access to information at your fingertips. So my smartphone, laptop or iPad are essential tools for me personally and professionally. I am constantly reviewing news sites, using Google search engine and social media apps. I receive, review and use documents and graphic files through file sharing apps, conduct conference calls via Skype, Google+, etc.
Describe goal setting methods you use and how you evaluate personal success?
I have always been someone to set goals for myself from a young age. My parents instilled that in me. I am always planning my life two to five years out. I did that with my career and I do that with my personal goals as well. I determine success by a measurement of my accomplishments against the goals I set and not by measuring myself relative to others and their accomplishments. … I feel successful when I feel I’ve executed a task at the highest level I can. Since I raise the bar constantly for myself, this can be challenging at times. It is also great when I receive positive feedback from the people I had hoped to impact and they confirm that my work has been exceptional.
Where do you enjoy vacationing?
My husband and I have traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean and enjoy that tremendously. I also love traveling to Europe where I spent a lot of my childhood and plan to do so again soon.
