The MRII Diversity Award is proudly sponsored by Full Circle Research.
We’re proud to recognize Nikki Porcher, Founder, Buy From A Black Woman, as the 2025 MRII Diversity Award recipient. Nikki is a powerful advocate for using research to drive economic justice and community impact.
Tell us about your background
When I think about my work, I always come back to one core idea: our stories deserve to be told clearly, powerfully, and in ways that move people to act.
My background is rooted in community building and economic advocacy. I founded Buy From A Black Woman to help Black women-owned businesses grow, but over time, my work has expanded to support Black businesses more broadly and push for stronger Black economic power as a whole. Research has been at the center of that.
Tell us about your motivations for pursuing an MR/Insights career or wanting to learn more about MRI/Insights?
One example is a study I led in 2024 during my fellowship with the Center for Black Entrepreneurship, The Impact of the Defunding of DEI Initiatives & the Social Justice Uprising on Black Women-Owned Businesses. That project put data behind what we see every day: our businesses are resilient and innovative, but they are often left without real support when corporations or institutions shift priorities.
I didn’t set out to become a traditional market researcher. Research has always been a tool for advocacy, a way to turn community voices and lived experiences into action. I wanted to learn more about insights and data because they help ensure our stories aren’t just heard but also taken seriously. When we communicate research effectively, it doesn’t just sit in a report; it leads to policy change, economic investment, and real community shifts.
What motivated you to apply for the MRII Diversity Award?
That’s what pushed me to apply for the MRII Diversity Award. I wanted to build my skills in a way that directly supports Black businesses, Black women, and the larger goal of strengthening Black economics.
What does it mean to you that you were selected as the MRII Diversity Award winner?
Being selected as the MRII Diversity Award winner meant so much because it affirmed that there’s space for using research as a tool for community empowerment and economic justice, not just for selling products.
Tell us about your experience with the Communicating Research Results course. What features about the course were most valuable to you?
The Communicating Research Results course was exactly what I needed at this point in my journey. It taught me how to break down complex data and translate it into messages that different audiences can truly understand and act on. I especially valued learning how to shape insights into stories that resonate beyond the charts and numbers.
How do you look to leverage your course experience as you progress in your research and insights career?
Going forward, I’ll use what I learned to continue pushing for policies that support Black businesses, help Black entrepreneurs understand their markets, and educate consumers on why buying Black is an investment in our shared future. Clear, impactful communication turns research into real-world change, and that’s the mission I’m carrying forward.
Thank you to MRII for seeing the power in this work and investing in voices that often go unheard.
MRII launched the Diversity Award program to underscore our commitment to providing fair access to learning opportunities for market researchers and insights professionals, and reinforce our dedication to supporting efforts to combat racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice. The award is designed for individuals in the U.S. from underrepresented groups who aspire to advance their market research and insights skills.
Recipients receive coverage for the fees of a Principles Express course of their choice, offered in collaboration with the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education, as well as support from the Insights Association with free attendance offered at the annual CRC conference.
Learn more about the award and past recipients here.
