Shanika Hillocks sitting on a green sofa with floral pants and a patterned blue shirt, in a living room with a large potted plant, windows with curtains, and decorative items on the windowsill.

About

I'm Shanika Hillocks, a brand operator and integrated marketing strategist with nearly 20 years of experience rooted at the intersection of hospitality and culture. I've partnered with legacy brands and funded founders to build brands that are culturally intelligent, commercially sound, and made to last.

My career spans FOH, agency, in-house, and founder roles, each deepening my understanding of what it actually takes to build a brand that moves culture, collaborates well, and drives business. I was part of the founding team at HONE Talent—a culinary talent agency—where I brokered over $1M in brand deals in year one. I've led enterprise go-to-market strategy for Ama at The Atlas, Tishman Speyer’s first hotel, run national creator programs for brands like Walmart and Jordan Brand, and produced hospitality experiences for the inaugural Blue Note Jazz Festival, Hennessy, and Louis XIII. With dual fluency in the creator economy, I’ve served as both influencer strategist and on-camera talent for branded content partnering with Resy, Delta, and Allianz, among others. I founded Shanika Hillocks Inc. to offer what I craved most in the industry: strategic depth, cultural fluency, and a real commitment to the brand partnership.

My perspective is shaped by more than strategy frameworks. It's built from years as a traveler, curator, and connector. I understand how culture moves, how taste is formed, and how brands earn genuine relevance, and that curatorial sensibility runs through everything I build.

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