Nzinga Shaw Leaves Hawks To Head Up Diversity Efforts At Starbucks

NZINGA SHAW is leaving her job as Hawks Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer to become Starbucks Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer. Shaw, an '18 SBJ Forty Under 40 and '17 Game Changers honoree, will leave the NBA team on Dec. 9. No replacement has yet been named. The Hawks in December '14 named Shaw the NBA's first Chief Diversity & Inclusion. The franchise in January '19 won the NBA's Inclusion Leadership Award. "Starbucks is an iconic brand with a huge platform with the potential to create lasting change," Shaw said (John Lombardo, THE DAILY). Shaw: "I've enjoyed my time at the Hawks. I literally have had the best five years of my professional career there. I think this is one of those opportunities that you have to take." In Atlanta, Eric Jackson notes Shaw joined the Hawks "in the wake of race-related controversies." She "developed diversity and inclusion practices" and "oversaw strategic internal programs to improve cultural awareness and sensitivity." Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said that the team "will spend the next four to six weeks meeting with stakeholders and internal leaders to assess the best way to move forward" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/22).