Nakisha Adams commands attention by operating outside convention. As Founder and CEO of Skribble, she leads a firm dedicated to empowering small non-profit organizations. She does not merely chase funding; she orchestrates strategic maneuvers. Adams understands that to carve a unique identity, one must disregard traditional boundaries. She believes in seizing new opportunities with an unorthodox approach, unburdened by fear of immediate outcome. She views stepping beyond one’s comfort zone not as a risk, but as a prerequisite for ascent. “It is easier to step back and critique the mistakes of those who are navigating outside the box,” she asserts. “Putting yourself in a position where you attempted something, knowing you may fail, that is a success.” This philosophy forms the bedrock of her influence: a calculated embrace of audacious action.
The Strategic Genesis: Abandoning False Security
Adams’s ascent began not in the non-profit world, but within Corporate America. She pursued education with relentless focus, earning a BBA from the University of Wisconsin, and later an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Cardinal Stritch University. Her aptitude for numbers led her into the finance industry. She climbed its ladder. Yet, a deeper impulse stirred: a desire to help people rise. She found herself balancing a corporate role with her burgeoning passion for assisting non-profits.
A decision point arrived. She recognized she faced a stark choice. Her significant other, Sean Rush, pushed her toward her true calling. She severed ties with her corporate job. She stepped into the unknown landscape of entrepreneurship. This move was not a mere leap of faith; it constituted a deliberate abandonment of a perceived security, a strategic shedding of limitations. “I saw that there was a need,” she explains, “not only the need for women in this industry but women of color.” She understood a specific void existed. “To be able to assist an individual in telling their story is one thing,” she clarifies, “but to assist an individual in telling their story, because you see yourself in it, is another.” This recognition of an underserved market, and her personal connection to it, became a powerful lever. She seized the opportunity. She laid Skribble’s foundation. She leveraged her identity as a competitive advantage, forging deeper engagement with her target clients.
The Unseen Hand of Skribble: Precision in Persuasion
Skribble functions as a non-profit consulting company. It provides strategic planning, grant writing, and board development. Adams ensures her team meets organizations precisely “where they are at” and guides them directly “where they want to be.” She transforms the often-mundane task of grant writing into a strategic act of persuasion.
“My contribution to redefining the industry,” she states, “is working with smaller nonprofits to assist them in their goal of being recognized by funders that tend to give to larger known organizations and to assist them in building bridges, which allows more visibility for the work they are doing.” This mission positions Skribble as a champion for the underdog. Adams empowers these smaller entities to penetrate a competitive landscape. She understands that access to funding flows from visibility and compelling narratives. Her firm provides: full proposal writing, letters of inquiry, proposal review, prospect research, governance policy review, and grant reporting. These services form the tools through which Skribble exerts its influence, ensuring that worthy missions gain the resources they require. The vision for Skribble remains clear: to deliver services that empower others to change their communities, all while innovating in how those services are delivered.
Forging the Instrument: The Alchemy of Challenge and Control
Challenges, Adams believes, forge strength. Overcoming them allows a leader to reflect and recognize personal transformation. Her entrepreneurial journey presented several hurdles. She sacrificed financial stability. She confronted a new world filled with unknown variables. She navigated the unfamiliar concepts of entrepreneurship. She learned to manage her time and master key business principles. This period was not chaos; it was a crucible.
She emerged victorious, shaped by her determination and refusal to yield. Her advice to rising businesswomen speaks to this: “Never be afraid to step outside the box. There will never be the ‘perfect or right time’ to go after a dream. Sometimes you just have to do it and figure it out while you are in it.” This reveals a leader who trusts her instincts, who believes in decisive action, and who learns continuously through direct engagement with the unknown. Her “seeking wisdom from others” is not a sign of weakness, but a strategic leveraging of external expertise, a way to minimize personal chaos and maximize collective intelligence.
Innovation at Skribble is not chaotic experimentation; it represents a directed process. Adams believes in “harnessing the power of the latest technologies.” She provides clear direction. She gives “proper space for all the personnel to grow individually.” This, she believes, creates “magic” and renders a team unstoppable. She illustrates this by stating, “Innovation is one of the core values that we as an organization focus on nurturing and cultivating. We were able to bring on COVID testing in just ten days due to the space we give to our teams to innovate and create solutions.” This controlled autonomy allows for rapid adaptation and strategic advantage.
The Inner Sanctum: Orchestrating Purpose and Performance
As CEO, Adams’ responsibilities include creating and implementing growth strategies. She builds and maintains the right team. She ensures Skribble’s brand maintains a cohesive message across all platforms. She manages her day with precision, prioritizing client work. She adjusts future events with the same disciplined approach. When her team works on a project, she ensures singular focus, eliminating distractions. This rigorous discipline maintains high quality.
She keeps herself and her team motivated by returning to the company’s core mission. “I remember and remind us of the ‘WHY,’” she states. “Why are we doing this? I am not doing this for me, but for the organizations that trust Skribble with their missions.” This powerful motivational lever centralizes purpose, unifying efforts and maintaining unwavering quality. It minimizes internal friction, transforming individual tasks into collective dedication. She continuously seeks to learn, surrounding herself with mentors who “push and challenge” her, ensuring she never grows “too comfortable.” This reflects a leader who understands the constant need for self-refinement. She also pays back to the community. She speaks to young women about her journey, providing assistance so they can forge their own paths to the top.
The Long Game: Building a Legacy of Influence
Adams aims to expand Skribble’s roots in the coming years. “I want to continue to build clientele in other states and countries,” she asserts. This interstate and international expansion represents a strategic move to broaden her sphere of influence. Her vision extends beyond immediate business gains. She plans to start a non-profit foundation specifically to assist young women in their entrepreneurial goals. “My vision is to continue to build a legacy,” she expresses. “I want to know that when I am no longer here, I have created and left something for my children that changed the lives of individuals in a positive way.” This commitment elevates her mission beyond mere commerce. It imbues her work with a timeless quality, inspiring deeper commitment from her team and solidifying her influence across generations.
The Balance of Power: Personal Discipline for Professional Dominance
While fueling her company’s growth, Adams dedicates ample time to her family. “I designate time to ensure I do not miss out on opportunities with my children,” she states. Before Skribble, she hated missing games, plays, and other special moments. Now, she makes sure she attends games, picks up her children from practices, and arrives home when they return from school. This disciplined commitment to her personal life is not a compromise; it is a strategic act of self-preservation. It ensures her mental renewal and sustains her capacity for leadership, confirming that mastery over self underpins professional dominance.
Nakisha Adams operates with the precision of a strategist. She identifies overlooked opportunities. She cultivates loyalty through shared purpose. She transforms challenges into tools for growth. She commands influence by embodying the very change she seeks to create, one small non-profit, one vital grant, one future leader at a time.
Also Read: The 10 Most Promising Entrepreneurs to Follow in 2025
