A Win That Speaks Louder Than Words: 2025 recipient of the MRII Diversity Award

I’m honored to share that I’ve been named the 2025 recipient of the MRII Diversity Award, presented by the Market Research Institute International and sponsored by Full Circle Research. Special thanks to the Insights Association and the University of Georgia.

This recognition means more than a title or a line on a résumé. It’s confirmation, a data point, a receipt.

Why This Award Matters Right Now

We’re in a moment where DEI programs are being defunded. Black Women are being pushed out of decision-making rooms. Research that centers our experiences is being ignored or erased.

So to receive this honor right now, while still doing the work, still building platforms, and still fighting for our visibility, feels like an act of defiance. It’s a reminder that Black Women are not just the data points. We are the designers, the analysts, and the storytellers shaping what research should look like.

Turning Lived Experience Into Research Power

Through Buy From A Black Woman, I’ve spent years using research, advocacy, and direct engagement to support Black Women business owners. We’ve tracked impact, surveyed communities, and made the invisible visible. This isn’t theoretical work. It’s a strategy backed by real numbers and real lives.

The MRII Diversity Award was created to uplift underrepresented leaders who are using insights to drive change, and that’s what we’ve been doing all along.

The Numbers Tell Our Story

When no one else was counting us, we counted ourselves. When the data sets didn’t include us, we built new ones. Through BFABW surveys, directories, and economic tracking, we’ve shown that investing in Black Women's businesses isn’t charity. It’s a strategy. It strengthens local economies, builds community wealth, and creates jobs.

This award is proof that research rooted in truth and lived experience has value and deserves recognition.

The Future of Research Must Include Us

This September, I’ll attend the Corporate Researchers Conference hosted by the Insights Association. I’m showing up not just to speak but to listen, challenge, and expand what this industry thinks is possible.

We can’t discuss insights if the data doesn’t include all of us, and we can’t discuss solutions if the people closest to the problem aren’t leading the analysis.

This Is Bigger Than Me

This award is for every Black Woman who’s ever been told her voice didn’t count. It’s for the founders, the researchers, the truth-tellers, and the community builders. I’m proud to be named, but I’m even more proud of the work. I didn’t ask for permission. I just started doing what needed to be done.

And I’m not done yet.

Read the full announcement here:https://mrii.org/celebrating-diversity-in-insights-meet-nikki-porcher-mrii-diversity-award-recipient