Nakeia L. Drummond is an award-winning leader, entrepreneur, and educator with 20 years of diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI), organizational and project-based strategy, and change management expertise. She views her career as a tapestry of experiences that have unlocked her purpose.

In this C-Suite Insights, we talk to Nakeia about her experience with Black women entrepreneurs and her love of Maryland’s environment and charm.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your company.
After nearly a decade in public education management, I founded NLD Strategic , an equity-centered management consulting firm that supports strategy development, implementation, and measurement in social impact organizations and businesses. Experiencing and hearing other Black women’s challenges in starting and scaling businesses, I founded She’s WELL Networked, Inc and the membership network, The Women Entrepreneur Leadership Lab  (The WELL), to radically shift and deepen investment in Black Women entrepreneurs by creating spaces where we can heal, tell our stories, and invest in our own assets.

Where in Maryland do you live?
Randallstown (Baltimore County)

Where in Maryland is your office located?
Home office in Randallstown, but I also work from Downtown Baltimore.

What was your first job?
My first job was at a bagel shop in Pikesville at 14 years old.

What is your favorite activity to do/place to visit in Maryland with your family/friends?
My favorite thing to do in the world is to hang out on a beach! I love doing this alone, with my family, and with friends. I sometimes drive to OC for the day just to hear the waves crashing and smell the ocean air.

Even during the scary days of the pandemic in 2020, we sought refuge in Ocean City to celebrate Asher's birthday. Pictured here is my family - Kaycie, Asher, me, and Jacen.

What makes Maryland a great state to live and work in?
Maryland really does have it all! I love that I can enjoy beaches, mountains, cities, and small towns right in my home state. And the people are just as diverse as the land! Maryland has a bit of Southern hospitality and charm with an edge. That edge is what makes it a dynamic place to start and grow a business. People here are smart and innovative, yet genuine and grounded.

Are there any Maryland financial incentives or certifications that your business utilizes?
Being a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) has afforded me the opportunity to partner on a large contract with a major consulting firm and make an impact on Maryland's schools and healthcare system.

What business goals would you like to see the state of Maryland accomplish over the next decade?
I'd like to see Maryland lead the charge on funding and supporting Black women entrepreneurs and their businesses. I'd love for Maryland to be the #1 state for Black women to start and grow businesses!

What do you enjoy the most about your job/industry?
I really enjoy solving puzzles/problems. Consulting allows me to do that every day to support meaningful change for complex societal problems. Sometimes, I get to see how my deep thinking or light bulb idea has made an impact and that's really fulfilling.

What's your favorite way to eat or drink Old Bay?
Old Bay is a secret ingredient in several of my favorite recipes and if I shared what they were… well, they wouldn't be a secret.

Maryland’s 12,400 square-miles are full of diverse professionals who span a variety of industries, sectors, and backgrounds. With our C-Suite Insights series, we’re shining the spotlight on some of our state’s leading executives in Q&A format and giving them a chance to share their thoughts on business and life in Maryland.