Nikki's Expertise

Nikki Stokes-Thompson serves as Chief of Staff to Ariel Alternatives, LLC. In her role, she is primarily responsible for investor relations for the firm. She works with the firm’s executive leadership on strategic growth and additionally serves as the liaison to the board of managers of Ariel Alternatives and the shared services team at Ariel Investments. Nikki sits on the Risk Committee for Ariel Investments.

Nikki joined Ariel Investments in April of 2020 as Chief of Staff to Mellody Hobson, the Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments.

Prior to Ariel, Nikki worked at the National Basketball Association as Marketing Partnerships Lead for the NBA Gatorade League, where she led all partnerships with corporations such as Gatorade, MGM Resorts International and Nike. She was also responsible for acquiring new business for the league and negotiating incremental deals. During her time at the NBA, she served as the Co-Chair of its Black employee resource group, Dream in Color.

Nikki’s previous experience includes roles at Under Armour and the office of United States Senator Cory A. Booker. Nikki serves as a board member of the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. She graduated from Georgetown University, where she was a George F. Baker Scholar and earned a BA in Government as well as a minor in African American studies.