Biography
Dr. Nicola Harris is the co-founder of The Centre for Strategic Impact, a consulting firm that focuses on organizational development and leadership for not-for-profits and for-profit businesses run or led by individuals who identify as Black and/or are racialized. Nicola is a long-time entrepreneur who has had businesses in many areas. She has worked tirelessly with many not-for-profits from inception to the growth stage to implement appropriate governance structures and scale up operations. Nicola provides expert advice in diversity, equity and inclusion and access issues, strategic planning, social impact, organizational and leadership development, research and the provision of services that are built from a decolonial and culturally responsive lens. Not only is she committed to collaboration and partnership to increase creativity and innovation, Nicola establishes relationships with her clientele to allow them to unleash their potential through the implementation of high-impact strategies that can be utilized to address a variety of issues and challenges. She possesses extensive expertise in conducting community-based research that is respectful and inclusive of the community by collaborating, collecting, storing and disseminating data in a manner that is respective and not exploitative to the community. Nicola offers a range of research-related services such as program evaluation, instrument design, facilitation of stakeholder engagement sessions, data analysis (qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods), professional development and capacity building as it relates to data collection, audits reviews, strategic planning and grant writing.
Nicola is a lifelong learner who has a doctorate in Education with a specialization in Organizational Leadership. She has earned a Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialization in Diversity, Equity, Access and Social Justice, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and graduate certificates in the areas of decolonizing education, business analysis, adult education, international development, program evaluation and Indigenous research. Nicola is also a certified Life/Business Coach, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion facilitator, Trauma Informed practitioner, Complexity theory facilitator and Emotional Intelligence coach. Her doctoral research centres around the development of decolonial training for Black leaders. Nicola has engaged in many community-based research projects most recently with the Afro Caribbean Business Network using Sensemaker to understand the needs of Black female entrepreneurs during the global pandemic and with Sheridan College completing a needs assessment on Black entrepreneurs in Ontario. Nicola has garnered several awards such as the Amethyst award from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for her policy and legislation work; she has also received a Community Ambassador award through the Regional Diversity Roundtable of Peel, a Community Services Award from Niagara University and a Volunteer award from The City of Toronto.