Nicole A. Elam, Esq. is president and CEO of the National Bankers Association (“NBA”), the premier trade association and voice for the nation’s minority financial institutions. She is the youngest president and CEO since the NBA’s founding in 1927.
Nicole joined the NBA in May 2021 from JPMorgan Chase & Co. where she was vice president and government relations manager developing public policy positions and advocacy strategies in Washington, DC. In this role, she also managed national engagement strategies and led efforts on the firm’s commitment to invest $30 billion over five years to advance racial equity and drive inclusive economic growth.
Nicole has spent more than 17 years working in public policy and public affairs. Prior to JPMorgan Chase & Co., she led the government and external affairs strategy for ITT Educational Services, Inc. and served as its primary spokesperson and lead representative with the media, policymakers, trade organizations, consumer groups, investors and the public. Nicole also worked as a senior director at the government affairs firm Ice Miller Strategies LLC.
Nicole has held legal roles as an attorney at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP focusing on congressional investigations and government enforcement actions, and a law clerk at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Washington, DC. Nicole’s early career highlights include working as communications director at the Black Leadership Forum and as a legislative assistant at the NAACP Washington Bureau.
Nicole received a J.D., cum laude, from the Howard University School of Law where she was solicitations editor of the law review, and a B.A. from DePauw University.
