Written by Trish B
Nicole Elam, the youngest President and CEO of the Nationwide Bankers Affiliation (NBA) since its founding in 1927, is making exceptional strides in selling monetary inclusion and supporting minority-owned banks throughout the U.S. With almost twenty years of expertise in public coverage and public affairs, Elam brings a wealth of information and a transparent imaginative and prescient for financial fairness in underserved communities.
Elam joined the NBA in Might 2021 after a distinguished profession at JPMorgan Chase & Co., the place she served as Vice President and Authorities Relations Supervisor. On this function, she developed public coverage methods and led nationwide engagement efforts, working to advance JPMorgan’s dedication to investing $30 billion over 5 years to advertise racial fairness and drive inclusive financial progress. Her expertise with such a big initiative underscores her dedication to fostering systemic change inside the monetary sector.
Earlier than her tenure at JPMorgan Chase, Elam led authorities and exterior affairs for ITT Instructional Providers, Inc., serving as the first spokesperson and connecting with policymakers, commerce organizations, and the general public. She additionally held senior positions at Ice Miller Methods LLC, a authorities affairs agency, the place her work centered on constructing relationships throughout sectors to affect optimistic coverage outcomes.
Nicole’s basis in regulation and coverage is in depth. She held positions as an legal professional at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, specializing in congressional investigations and authorities enforcement actions. Moreover, she gained expertise as a regulation clerk with the NAACP Authorized Protection and Instructional Fund in Washington, D.C. Her early profession additionally included roles as a communications director on the Black Management Discussion board and as a legislative assistant with the NAACP Washington Bureau.
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Elam holds a Juris Physician diploma, cum laude, from Howard College Faculty of Regulation, the place she served because the solicitations editor for the regulation evaluation. She additionally earned a Bachelor of Arts diploma from DePauw College. Her educational achievements and management roles have ready her for the challenges of guiding the NBA and advocating for financial inclusivity on a nationwide scale.
Driving the Way forward for Minority-Owned Banks
Because the CEO of the Nationwide Bankers Affiliation, Elam is a number one voice for minority-owned banks and monetary establishments. She goals to empower these banks to higher serve their communities, enhance entry to capital, and drive generational wealth. By constructing partnerships with bigger monetary establishments and enhancing capital stream to minority banks, Elam is actively working to bridge financial gaps and create a extra equitable monetary panorama.
Her tenure on the NBA is marked by a imaginative and prescient of financial inclusion, group empowerment, and strategic alliances. Nicole Elam’s management is setting a brand new commonplace for what it means to drive significant change within the monetary sector, guaranteeing that minority-owned banks have the sources and advocacy they should thrive.