Meet Our Team
Nikki R. Lanier, J.D.
CEO
Nikki's commitment to advancing equity and multicultural workplaces isn't just a career choice—it's in her DNA. Born into a family deeply rooted in the civil rights movement, Nikki's upbringing on the campus of Hampton University instilled in her a profound sense of duty to champion the rights of black communities. As a three-time Chief Human Resources Officer in both the private and public sectors and a former executive with the Federal Reserve, Nikki is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, and thought leader on the future of work, race, and economics.
Now, as CEO and founder of Harper Slade one of the fastest-growing and most highly recognized race, risk mitigation and workforce development advisory firms in the country, her work focuses on helping organizations cultivate environments where black and brown talent can thrive. Nikki has also founded a global coaching program for “inclined” white women who want to become better racial equity advocates in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
In recognition of her leadership, Nikki was named 2025 Enterprising Women of the Year, 100 Women To Know in America in 2024 and has been honored as a 2024 Director to Watch by Directors and Boards Magazine. Her career spans diverse industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, and consulting, with executive roles at organizations like Philip Morris USA, Georgia Pacific, ADP, Maricopa Community Colleges, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, where she was the youngest and first black women appointed to the Cabinet in the state’s history. She has managed operational budgets exceeding $60M and led HR departments of over 200 professionals, serving employee populations as large as 33,000.
Featured in Ebony Media, Forbes, Essence, USA Today, CNBC, PBS, Today’s Woman, Tops Magazine and countless podcasts, Nikki earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Hampton University and holds a certification in Collective Bargaining from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Engr. Jannen “Jam” Daub, ECE, ECT
Administration and Operations
Jam Daub is an experienced Executive and Administrative Assistant with a strong background supporting senior leaders and managing complex projects across diverse industries. A licensed engineer in the Philippines, Jam began her career working with leading telecommunications, industrial, consulting, and technology companies in the country.
Over time, she discovered her passion for providing high-level administrative support — bringing her expertise in project management, customer service, and business automations to every role. This led her to expand her work with companies outside the Philippines, helping businesses streamline their operations and grow with clarity and efficiency.
Today, as Nikki Lanier’s Executive Assistant at Harper Slade, Jam is driven by the company’s mission to foster multicultural workplace resilience and advance inclusion as an economic imperative. She found a renewed passion for supporting visionary work that creates real impact, and is committed to helping Nikki and the entire Harper Slade team stay focused on what matters most. She thrives on creating organized systems, building trust with clients, and ensuring every detail aligns with big-picture goals. She brings a solutions- focused approach, a calm presence, and a dedication to helping leaders like Nikki lead with confidence and purpose.
Saren Chatham
Administration and Operations
Saren Chatham serves as the Contracts & Outreach Administrator, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting the firm’s mission-driven work. Since joining the team in August 2024, Saren has contributed to expanding the organization’s impact by managing key business development activities, including drafting responses to government RFPs, coordinating strategic roundtable discussions, and identifying opportunities for meaningful partnerships through lead generation.
With a background in psychology from the University of Louisville, Saren brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to both the administrative and outreach aspects of her role. Her work supports initiatives that not only drive organizational growth but also help advance equity in real and measurable ways.
Saren is known for her proactive mindset, attention to detail, and ability to keep multiple moving pieces aligned with broader goals. Whether she’s helping to shape a compelling proposal or facilitating conversations between sector leaders, she stays focused on outcomes that foster connection, clarity, and lasting impact.
La Toya McLellan, MA
Strategic Advisor
La Toya's experience as Senior Director, Global Head of Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (EDEI) with Astellas Pharma U.S. where she is responsible for Global Employee Engagement implementation and strategy, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy, Employee Impact Groups, D&I curriculum, partnerships with the business to advance Health Equity and Supplier Diversity, and enhancing data driven decision making within HR.
La Toya has broad HR experience in learning/organizational development, talent acquisition, HR business partnership and D&I. She started her HR career at the University of Evansville (Indiana) as the Diversity & Equity Officer. The acceleration of her HR and D&I career occurred at BrownForman in Louisville, KY, where she spent nearly nine years designing and implementing key initiatives to drive manager cultural competency, design and implement educational programs, improve and harmonize HR systems, and build the business acumen of Brown-Forman leadership and community.
La Toya earned her bachelors in secondary English education from the University of Evansville, her Master's in Psychology with an emphasis on D&I from Cleveland State University, and her PHR certification. Originally from Louisville, KY, La Toya grew up in a military and blended family and boasts a blended family of her own.
Jaeden Thomas, M.S.Ed
Administration and Operations
Jaeden Thomas has been a vital member of the Harper Slade team since its inception, joining Nikki Lanier before the firm officially launched and contributing to the development of The Garden training series.
With a background in education and nonprofit work, Jaeden is passionate about the power of equitable practices to transform both individuals and communities. Aligned with Harper Slade’s beliefs-driven and grace-centric approach, Jaeden plays a key role in ensuring brand consistency, clear messaging, and meaningful client engagement.
Jaeden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Berea College and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her experiences at both institutions helped to shape the ways Jaeden believes in communication across lines of difference and was her introduction to racial literacy and fighting for a more racially equitable world.
Annie Kuensting, MA
Advisor, Client Engagement and Coaching
Annie Kuensting, is a contract client advisor with Harper Slade and the founder of Beacon Empowerment Strategies, a coaching and consulting practice dedicated to personal alignment, conscious leadership, and equity- centered transformation.
With a background in education and advanced certifications in diversity, equity, and inclusion, coaching, and psychological safety, Annie brings a unique blend of emotional intelligence, strategic insight, and grounded presence to her work.
She partners with individuals, teams, and organizations to uncover what’s misaligned, dismantle limiting beliefs, and cultivate the clarity and courage needed for meaningful change. Annie’s approach is both compassionate and results-oriented, empowering changemakers to lead with authenticity, disrupt systems of disempowerment, and build more just and connected workplaces.