Nicole Cokley Dunlap is a strategic, transformative, and results driven Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Human Resources executive with expertise aligning talent strategies with business priorities to drive engagement, performance, profitability, and growth. She has a proven track record of success leading, managing, and embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into employee, business, and customer practices, while building high
performing teams. An influential thought partner with expertise across Human Resources disciplines – including HR Business Partner, Centers of Excellence, HR Technology, and Operations – Nicole is known for achieving data driven and innovative solutions through a balance of art and science, change management capabilities, and gaining commitment from leaders and teams across a matrixed organization.

Nicole was most recently Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and Senior Vice President of Talent and People Operations at Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. In this role, she drove HR excellence and strategy across Centers of Excellence and Shared Services, including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Talent Management, Learning and Development, Operations and Technology.

Prior to Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Nicole was the Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion Strategy at Macy’s, Inc., where she where she led strategic planning and execution for key initiatives, including Colleague Lifecycle, Employee Resource Groups, and Engagement.

Throughout her career at Bloomingdale’s, she held various management and Human Resources positions, including Vice President, HR Business Partner, Diversity & Inclusion and Employee Giving. At the luxury retailer, she held various management and Human Resources positions and began her career as a Bloomingdale’s intern, before becoming an Executive Trainee.

Nicole currently serves as President of the Black Retail Action Group (BRAG), a non- profit organization that prepares and educates professionals, entrepreneurs, and students of color for leadership in retail, fashion, and related industries. She previously served on the board of Opus 118 Harlem School of Music.

A recipient of The Network Journal’s Forty Under Forty Achievement Award and Greater New York YMCA Black Achiever honoree, she has also been featured and quoted in publications such as Essence, The Cut and Women’s Wear Daily.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science degree in speech-language pathology and
audiology from Howard University and resides in New York City.