Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nikki Porcher. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nikki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

One of the most important lessons I learned came from working in spaces where decisions were being made about people who weren’t in the room. I’ve held jobs where I watched policies, budgets and brand decisions get approved that directly impacted workers, small business owners and families, but the people affected were rarely asked what they needed.

That stuck with me.

I remember sitting in meetings where people talked about “target audiences” and “communities” like they were abstract ideas instead of real human beings trying to survive, grow businesses and provide for their families. At some point, I realized I didn’t just want to work inside systems, I wanted to build something that centered the people being talked about.

That lesson shaped everything I do today. It’s why I founded Buy From A Black Woman and it’s why I’m running for Georgia Labor Commissioner as a candidate who sees labor as people, not numbers. It’s why I went on a statewide listening tour asking workers and business owners what they need before proposing solutions.

The biggest takeaway for me was this: proximity to power is not the same as being heard. So I decided to build spaces where people are heard and to step into rooms where I can bring their voices with me.

Nikki, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Nikki Porcher, a U.S. Airforce veteran, founder of award-winning organization Buy From A Black Woman, and a candidate for Georgia Labor Commissioner. At my core, I’m a community builder. Everything I do centers around making sure people have access to resources, visibility and opportunity.

I started Buy From A Black Woman because I saw how hard Black women work to build businesses, often without the same access to capital, partnerships or infrastructure. What began as a simple call to support Black women business owners grew into a national nonprofit that has provided education, funding opportunities and programming for 700 entrepreneurs. Since 2021, we’ve helped business owners generate $6.12 million in revenue, demonstrating real economic impact.

Through this work, I’ve also seen how labor policy and small business success are deeply connected. Workers and business owners are part of the same ecosystem. When people have fair wages, safe workplaces and access to opportunity, communities thrive. When they don’t, everyone feels it.

That realization is what led me to run for Labor Commissioner. I’m running as a citizen candidate, someone who has been in community with workers and entrepreneurs, not just studying them from a distance.

What sets me apart is my lived experience across the very systems I’m working to improve. I’ve been a veteran transitioning back into civilian life, who struggled while looking for a job. I’ve been a teacher stretching every paycheck and still figuring out how to make ends meet. I’ve been unemployment and experienced the uncertainty that comes with that. I’ve also been a business owner responsible for paying employees, navigating payroll, hiring, and trying to create stable work in an unstable economy. I know what it feels like to be on both sides of the labor system, looking for work and creating jobs, and I’ve seen the gaps from the inside out.

This perspective puts me in a unique position because I don’t just understand policy on paper, I understand how it plays out in real life. I know where people get stuck in the system, where resources don’t reach them, and where small businesses and workers fall through the cracks. My goal is to fix those gaps by making systems more accessible, more transparent and more responsive to the people they’re meant to serve.

What I’m most proud of is the 280,000 community we’ve built through Buy From A Black Woman and the real economic impact it has created. We’ve helped entrepreneurs stay open, grow and feel supported. This work has always been about dignity, stability and building stronger communities. Not just business.

What I want people to know about me is simple, I believe in practical solutions and people-first leadership. My work is rooted in service, not titles. Whether I’m designing programs, advocating for workers, or running for office, my focus is the same: making sure everyday people have the support they need to thrive.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There have been many moments where it would have been easier to stop than to keep going. Building a nonprofit from the ground up, advocating for businesses during uncertain times, and now stepping into politics as a regular person, it all requires resilience.

A story that really captures my resilience is my journey to becoming a marathon runner after being told I might never run again.

In 2013, I shattered my kneecap. After surgery, doctors told me I would likely walk with a limp and probably wouldn’t be able to run long distances. At the time, that felt devastating. But it also lit something in me. We’re often told what our limits are by systems, by circumstances, sometimes even by people who mean well. I decided I didn’t want that to be the end of my story.

So I started with learning how to move again without pain. Then walking. Then jogging. Eventually, I started training for half-marathons. What began as physical therapy turned into a personal mission. I’ve now run 22 half-marathons across the country, with a goal of running a race in all 50 states, and in 2022 I ran my first full marathon, the New York City Marathon.

That marathon was full circle in so many ways. Running 26.2 miles after being told I might never run long distances again reminded me that resilience isn’t about ignoring setbacks, it’s about rebuilding after them. It’s about deciding that someone else’s limitations for you don’t have to become your own. That mindset has carried into every part of my life, from building an award-winning nonprofit to running for office.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Running for Labor Commissioner is one of the biggest pivots of my life.

I didn’t grow up planning to run for office. My work was focused on supporting entrepreneurs and building economic opportunity through partnerships, community and education. But over time, I saw how many of the challenges business owners faced were tied to labor systems — access to workers, protections, wages, training and policy.

I realized that if we want to truly support small businesses and workers, we can’t just operate outside of government. We also need people inside who understand what communities are experiencing.

So I made the decision to pivot from solely nonprofit leadership into public service. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly. It meant learning new systems, stepping into public scrutiny and expanding my role. But it also felt like a natural extension of the work I’d already been doing advocating for people, building infrastructure and connecting resources.

The pivot reminded me that sometimes growth requires stepping into spaces you didn’t originally see for yourself. And that your platform can evolve while your mission stays the same. Because at the end of the day, everything I do is about creating pathways for people to thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Vote4Nikki.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voteporcher4ga/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voteporcher4ga/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-porcher/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VotePorcher4GA
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@voteporcher
  https://www.threads.com/@voteporcher4ga
  https://bsky.app/profile/voteporcher4ga.bsky.social

Image Credits

Nikki Porcher