Malaika Moran

Strategic Projects Consultant

Malaika is a Marketing and Business Strategist with core competencies in marketing, strategic planning, digital marketing, event logistics, class facilitation and public speaking. In 1996 Malaika Moran pioneered an online channel that connected professionals to quality social, cultural and networking events in 10 cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Miami. For twelve years, SOCIASLTEP was considered the premier resource for events among professionals. At its pinnacle the site averaged over 2 million impressions and 300,000 visits per month. It was also an effective advertising channel that serviced a variety of clients including ESSENCE Magazine, Microsoft, Heineken, Verizon, Martell, HBO, Sony Music and more. 

Prior to launching SOCIALSTEP, Malaika received her Marketing Degree from Hampton  University. She launched her professional career in Credit Card Marketing at Chase Manhattan Bank and Small Business Marketing at American Express in New York. A New Orleans native, Malaika took a break from running SOCIALSTEP in 2005 to assist her family after hurricane Katrina. Her professional path then led her to develop and execute all online and digital marketing strategies for The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, develop and launch the new Latitudes Cruise Loyalty Program for Norwegian Cruise Line; and manage Business Development for Entertainment Benefits Group.

In recent years, with her consulting firm SOCIALSTEP Consulting, she’s provided marketing strategy and business development services for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the New Orleans Business Alliance and an array of small and mid-sized businesses. She also teaches Strategic Business Planning and Entrepreneurship for the Urban League’s Women’s Business Resource Center.

Carly E. Hill 

Development Consultant

Carly E. Hill is a dedicated servant leader who thrives on being of service to her community and making a true and lasting impact on the world. As the Owner of Essential Impact LLC, Carly works to provide emerging nonprofit leaders with the skills needed to lead thriving and impactful organizations. Carly has served in various leadership roles in nonprofit organizations including the Executive Director of a youth community center in New Orleans, Louisiana and as the Director of Grants and External Relations at a community health center in Cleveland, Ohio. She also served as an adjunct professor at Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus. Carly specializes in creating and ramping up new initiatives and creating sustainable, data-driven organizational structures. 

Carly has served in various community leadership capacities including President of the Cleveland Section National Council of Negro Women Inc., the Recording Secretary and Membership Chair of the Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association, and Treasurer of the Howard University Alumni Club of Cleveland. Aside from her engagement in those organizations, she served as one of the inaugural members of the College Now Greater Cleveland Emerging Leaders Association. Because of her desire to reach back to influence the youth of East Cleveland, Ohio, she founded The Cardinal Nest Inc. in 2014, a mentoring organization dedicated to preparing high school students for their post-graduation endeavors.  

Carly was born and raised in East Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Shaw High School as the valedictorian of her class. Carly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from Howard University, her Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Community Health Promotion from Cleveland State University, and her Master of Nonprofit Organizations (M.N.O.) from Case Western Reserve University. Carly was recognized by the National Howard University Alumni Association as a 2019 Movemake. She was also recognized as one of Cleveland’s Top 25 Under 35 in 2016 by the Cleveland Professional 2030 Club. 

Dr. Jacqueline Minor

Intern Programming and Development Consultant

Dr. Jacqueline Minor is the founder of Minor Consulting Group, LLC, which provides services such as HR and I/O consulting, career mentoring, interview preparation, and offers guidance and mentorship to graduate students.  She offers PhD students a platform to explore dissertation research and topic selection, comprehensive exam preparation, and dissertation manuscript review. She holds a PHR certification and received certifications in Human Resource Management from Cornell and Purdue University. Her industry experience in Human Resources spans over 15 years working in union and non-union environments such as the airlines, veterinary services, financial services, manufacturing, and the oil, gas, and energy sector.

Dr. Minor was awarded a PhD and Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Capella University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Houston. She is the author of the study Factors Involved in Job Stress and Organizational Commitment: A Multivariate Investigation available on ProQuest and the inspirational book Navigating This Journey Called Life: My Thoughts, Experiences, and Life Lessons available on Amazon.

Dr. Minor’s research and professional interests align with resolving complex workplace issues through analyzing, designing, and improving workplace programs. Through critical thinking and the use of a strategic lens, she has identified gaps in varying processes and devised protocols and workflows to improve efficiencies in areas such as workforce planning, hiring and retention, payroll, and data analysis. In addition, she developed leadership and employee engagement initiatives to resolve communication style gaps between management and employees.

As an Industrial and Organizational Psychology Consultant, Dr. Minor consults on various projects and willingly extends her expertise via podcasts, blogs, white papers, workshops, and events. She, along with the Associate Dean of Engineering, and two other Virginia Tech staff members collectively presented at the National Science Foundation-Engineering Research Center-Smart One Water Workforce Development Workshop on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.  Dr. Minor discussed her topic Attracting & Retaining a Diverse Workforce and was a contributing author to the white paper that resulted from this workshop.  Furthermore, Dr. Minor strongly believes in working for the greater good serving as the Director of Human Resources and Operations for the Society of Evidence-Based Organizational Consulting, sits on the NOLA SHRM Board of Directors serving as the Workforce Readiness Director, and a Career Mentor at Capella University.