Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Nicole Robinson’s career exemplifies bridge-building across communities, government and business leaders. Her leadership journey reflects a passion for driving change and creating opportunities for underserved populations.
The YWCA of Metro Chicago is a leading nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women, guided by the mission to foster community resilience, economic equity and healing from trauma. As the chief executive officer, Robinson has transformed the YWCA into a $44 million enterprise with a team of 300 and 15 sites spanning Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties.
“Inspired by this mission and the resilience of the families who turn to the YWCA, Nicole is committed to building community resilience to heal from violence, unleashing youth potential and ensuring communities have the economic equity needed to thrive,” said her staff.
Before joining YWCA in January 2022, Robinson served as chief partnership and program officer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, where she championed food justice and tackled systemic inequities. Her efforts led to a $10 million investment in Chicago’s emergency food system and the establishment of the city’s first Food Equity Council.
Robinson’s earlier career included leadership roles in corporate finance and philanthropy. At Kraft Foods and Mondelez International, she managed a $150 million global foundation, investing in award-winning programs across five continents and developing initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles and economic stability in underserved regions. Her work impacted communities from Brazil to Ghana to Indonesia and earned her recognition as a thought leader in corporate social responsibility.
Under Robinson’s leadership, the YWCA has expanded its focus on economic empowerment. The organization has pioneered universal basic income outreach, including serving as the community leader for Chicago’s cash assistance pilot. This $31.5 million initiative provided direct financial support to 5,000 residents, resulting in 174,000 applications, predominantly from women and people of color. Robinson also launched Breedlove, an entrepreneurship accelerator tailored for Black women, and spearheaded partnerships with industry leaders to create workforce pipelines in trades and technology.
Internally, Robinson has fortified the YWCA’s organizational resilience through strategic pillars such as unleashing employee potential, transforming finance, and embracing AI and technology to future-proof operations. She has partnered with McKinsey to enhance leadership development and integrated insights from leading research institutions like Deloitte and the Federal Reserve.
Her accolades include recognition in Crain’s Chicago Business as one of 2022’s notable Black leaders and executives.
Robinson envisions the YWCA becoming the foremost advocate for women’s economic and political empowerment in the U.S. over the next five years. “Eliminating barriers alongside unlocking opportunities will be our focus,” said Robinson.