Dr. Nikisha D. Alcindor is an AI-focused strategic management leader with expertise in AI operations management, machine learning, and curriculum development for organizations undergoing digital transformation. Her work bridges business strategy, emerging technologies, and workforce development—helping companies leverage AI to solve complex problems, drive innovation, and cultivate future-ready talent.
Dr. Alcindor Nikisha is an Assistant Professor at the Saunders College of Business, Rochester Institute of Technology. Her research applies machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve the success rates of Mergers & Acquisitions by uncovering data patterns that inform strategic decision-making. As an educator and curriculum designer, she has developed the Master's of Wealth Management at Columbia University and taught AI-integrated coursework and master classes at institutions including Columbia Business School and Baruch College. Her innovative approach to teaching has earned her the 2021 Dean Huss Teaching Award and recognition as a 2021 Harvard Rising Scholars Conference Presenter.
Dr. Alcindor's professional background spans investing, fundraising, organizational change, and public-sector development. She previously served as a Board Member of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, providing strategic guidance on economic and community initiatives. She holds a BA in Chemistry from Emory University and an MBA from Columbia Business School, where she was a Leon Cooperman Scholar. She has her Ph.D. in Business (Strategic Management) from the Graduate Center of The City University of New York (CUNY), Baruch College – Zicklin School of Business. She is a CUNY Graduate Center Fellow, Provost Enhancement Fellow, and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business Honor Society.
Dr. Alcindor collaborates with organizations seeking expertise in:
• AI and Quantum Computing strategy
• AI-enabled curriculum development and training programs
• Organizational transformation and innovation
• Research-driven consulting for corporate strategy
Through her consulting practice, Dr. Alcindor helps organizations and leaders harness the potential of artificial intelligence to shape smarter, more resilient futures.
Dr. Alcindor gives back to her community through her nonprofit, the STEM Educational Institute, Inc. which provides free education in STEM, Financial Literacy and Mental Health to underserved populations. Her podcast, Coding Conversations, brings light to issues in STEM, Financial Literacy and Mental Health.
