Executive LeadHERship.....We are here to serve YOU!

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FoundHER, President, Board of Directors

and Chief Executive Officer 

Niko M. Cook is a dynamic executive, C-Suite leader, founder, speaker, board advisor, curator, and strategist whose transformative career in Human Resources and Strategic Operations began in Chicago with the Jewish Federation of Chicago. There, she built a strong foundation in human capital management, operational excellence, and organizational strategy, a foundation that has guided her through more than three decades of leadership across diverse sectors and geographies. 

Currently, Niko serves as Chief People and Operations Officer for a leading scientific research institution. In this executive role, she drives organizational effectiveness, cross-functional collaboration, and the advancement of institutional strategy, while cultivating inclusive workplace cultures and operational innovation. She’s also the FoundHER, President and Chief Executive Officer, Black Women Executive Human Resource LeadHERship Collective Society, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering, connecting, and elevating Black women in executive leadership. 

Niko serves as Director, Workforce Readiness for the Pennsylvania State Council of the Society of Human Resources Management (PA SHRM), where she strategically leads statewide initiatives. She has also provided long-standing leadership to the Greater Valley Forge Human Resources Association (GVFHRA), where she served as Special Interest Group (SIG) Board Director, President-Elect, President, Immediate Past President, and currently, she serves as Past President, advancing programming, workforce readiness initiatives, and member development while building bridges across Pennsylvania’s Human Resources community. 

As a trusted board advisor, Niko has guided nonprofit organizations and corporate boards in governance, leadership development, process improvement, and strategic planning. She is a sought-after resource for organizations looking to build high-performing boards, cultivate emerging and executive leaders, and advance inclusive excellence. She is particularly known for her ability to build bridges between business, education, government, and nonprofit sectors to address complex workforce and operational challenges. Widely recognized for her inclusive and transformative leadership style, Niko is a trusted advisor fostering innovation and driving meaningful culture change in organizations large and small. 

She has worked for and consulted with several Fortune 500 companies, top foundations, and mission-driven organizations, delivering people-centered solutions that align with strategic business goals and foster sustainable growth. A Malcolm Baldrige Quality-trained leader with global experience in Canada, Germany, Western Europe, Australia, and the United Kingdom, Niko brings a unique international perspective to leadership, organizational design, and best practices. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management with a minor in Organizational Development and Design and has been both appointed and elected to more than 56 boards of directors, civic commissions, and advisory councils, where she has consistently influenced workforce policy, advanced leadership development, and supported community advancement. 

Niko’s contributions have earned her multiple nominations for Human Resource Person of the Year and Woman of the Year, as well as invitations to present at national conferences. She remains deeply committed to her faith, family, building innovative, equitable workplaces, and to inspiring and empowering the next generation of executive leaders.