Hi, I’m Shanika.

Shanika Hillocks standing in her bedroom, wearing a blue polka dot blouse and floral wide-leg pants, with a vase of flowers and a lamp on a bedside table.

I'm a brand operator for funded founders and legacy brands, leading integrated marketing strategy from first idea to launch.

Jordan Brand logo in black
Mielle brand logo in black
Resy brand logo in red
The logo of Hennessy, a French cognac brand, featuring a stylized crest with a cane, the year 1765, and the word "Hennessy" with the tagline "reimagines" underneath.
Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley event logo with dates July 29th-31st, 2023, in blue and red text.

My Approach

Strategy

Everything starts with a clear foundation. I listen first—to your business goals, the cultural landscape, and the people behind the brand—then define the positioning, narrative, and tone that everything else builds on. Clarity over assumption, and always built for long-term value.

Activation

With strategy as the anchor, I design and execute integrated work across brand, influence, and experience. Cohesive, resonant, and built to perform, not just to look good.

Collaboration

I work as an extension of your team, not a vendor on the outside. That means immersing myself in your vision, your goals, and the realities of your business, and building the kind of trust that lets us move decisively together. Partnership over transaction, always.

Stewardship

I don't disappear at launch. I measure against the goals we set, refine where it counts, and stay on to steward the brand forward, because the real work is longevity, not a one-time moment.

Case Studies

Brand Strategy

Mielle

Post-acquisition by Procter & Gamble, Mielle engaged me as Senior Strategy Consultant to define the brand’s next chapter. I delivered a comprehensive FY24/FY25 Brand Strategy Playbook—spanning brand purpose, consumer segmentation, and product-to-persona mapping—adopted across six cross-functional teams, including the Office of the CEO.

Influencer Marketing

Jordan Brand Women

Served as Influencer Marketing Lead for FITTINGROOM23, Jordan’s first women-led creator program, built to shift brand perception from “Jordan for shoes” to “Jordan for style.” Managed end-to-end summer campaign lifecycle. Delivered 2.52M impressions at 2x campaign target, driving 78K+ clicks to Nike.com and LTK.

Experience

Hennessy

Led the creative hospitality vision for a trade-focused dinner at Tales of the Cocktail, serving as both creative strategist and culinary operations. Supported production of two immersive 40-person seatings with event copy, storytelling, and culinary partnership led end-to-end.

Additional case studies available upon request.

What People are Saying

"Shanika took a holistic approach, supporting us across marketing, press events, and communications, and she built genuine relationships with journalists that have extended well beyond our time working together."

Gina Fuchs, Director of Marketing, The David Prize

"An impressive balance of autonomy and collaboration, fostering trust while navigating various internal stakeholders."

Danielle Tin, former Account Director, Giant Spoon

Get in Touch

Schedule a 1:1 brand operator call with me to discuss your business goals, what’s in the way, and how we move forward.

Shanika Hillocks taking a photo of a dining scene with a smartphone at a restaurant.

FAQ

Close-up of a person’s hand with dark skin typing on a computer keyboard, shallow depth of field.
  • Start with a call. I take the time to understand your business, where you are, and what you’re building, then assess whether we’re a right fit. We work with a select number of partners each year, so alignment matters as much as timing.

  • Engagements are customized to your objectives, scope, and timeline. I work through retainers for ongoing strategic partnership, or project-based engagements for defined initiatives like launches and campaigns. Reach out and we’ll find the right structure.

  • Yes. I’m selectively exploring senior in-house roles in brand and integrated marketing strategy. If you’re building a function and think I might be the right fit, I’d love to connect.

Let’s Work Together