Meet
Dr. TaNikka
Envision and embrace the greatness within.
Development Coach, International Leader, Innovation Consultant, Inspirational Speaker
- TaNikka Sheppard
Dr. TaNikka is the founder and President of Sheppard Leadership Solutions (SLS). She has spoken, served, and studied in venues around the United States and in a variety of countries, including Canada, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Germany, and India.
In January of 2024, TaNikka began her new role as the Regional Executive Minister of the Cleveland Baptist Association, which has had the continual mission of "Strengthening local churches since 1832".
TaNikka serves internationally as the Acting General Secretary of The North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF). She formerly served as the Assistant General Secretary and Treasurer of NABF. She is also the immediate past president of Baptist Women of North America (BWNA) and a former vice president of the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department. TaNikka also serves as the co-chair of the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Transformational Leadership.
Previously, TaNikka served as the leader of the International Youth Development Department of Lott Carey, which provides national and international opportunities for youth and young adults to become compassionate and productive global citizens who play an active role in making a positive difference in the world.
TaNikka's passion for leadership development is exhibited through her continual support of international, national, and local leadership development programs and initiatives, which includes her participation as a cohort member of both Uptick and the "Leading the Lott Carey Way" leadership development initiatives in 2017. This also includes her conception of leadership programs, events, workshops, and media that nurture "leaders of leaders" in their growth and advancement.
TaNikka Sheppard
TaNikka received her two B.A. degrees in Sociology and African American & African Studies from The Ohio State University. She graduated from the Methodist Theological School of Ohio with a Master of Divinity degree and a specialization in Youth Ministry. She received her Doctor of Ministry degree in Global Leadership at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University in May of 2018. Her studies focused on leadership development, liberation theologies, and contemporary missiologies, with a research concentration among the Dalit Christian Federation in Bengaluru, India.
In 2009 TaNikka was licensed in ministry at New Salem Baptist Church (NSBC) under the pastoral leadership of Dr. Keith A. Troy, and she was ordained in June of 2019. However, she began her journey in ministry at the very young age of four in her hometown of Akron, Ohio. For many years she played the cello in a string quartet with her three sisters until the siblings graduated from high school and moved on to college.
As an undergraduate student, TaNikka saw a need for a ministry that would nurture the spirit and souls of young women on college campuses. Therefore, she founded a Christian sorority and an organization called the Coalition of Christian Women with a vision to build bridges across generational, racial, and economic gaps and form networks that would empower women to transform their lives, families, and communities.
From 2008 until 2019 TaNikka served as the Director of Life Development at NSBC where she coordinated and developed ministries, programs, events, and community outreaches for youth and college students. From 2016 to 2020 she served as the Director of the Communications Department, which allowed her to engage her passion for sharing the Good News in unique and transformative ways. She is a student of excellence and loves to use this eye for improvement to help organizations and individuals improve their internal and external communication pathways for the sake of the Kingdom.
From 2020-2023 TaNikka served as the Executive Pastor of The Fountain Church in Miami Gardens, FL.
While TaNikka continues to be humbled, honored, and transformed by every door that God opens for her to grow and utilize her passions for leadership development, missional service, and institutional advancement, she is very excited to use all of these experiences to help YOU accomplish YOUR dreams!
