Nekeda Newell Hall’s career uniquely and effectively combines PR, philanthropy, sports, and entertainment. At leading nonprofit Shoes That Fit, she leads internal teams that facilitate the PR and communications efforts, and partnerships corporations and celebrities. Her teams facilitate individual giving, grants, and warehouse operations.
Nekeda is particularly skilled in driving innovation and implementing change management strategies. She is also a strategic partnerships guru. Some of the most notable partnerships Nekeda has helped to sustain and grow over the years include Nordstrom, MGM, NBA stars Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, DeAndre Bembry, MLB star Clayton Kershaw, the LA Kings, LA Galaxy, San Antonio Spurs, LA Rams, Atlanta Hawks, Nordstrom, Geico, Mercedes-Benz USA and Porsche Cars North America. These partnerships helped to raise millions of dollars that provided program services to more than 200,000 children in 2025 alone.
In addition to her work at Shoes That Fit, Nekeda partners with strut AGENCY to consult with brands and celebrities on their public relations strategies, marketing, and philanthropic initiatives. She helps design program metrics that ensure a positive ROI for each client. She is most proud of her work with Gatorade, Viacom, T-Mobile, HBO, Communities In Schools, and VolunteerMatch. She and the Strut team have been directly credited with helping to raise more than $240M to empower children, volunteers, and under-served communities by positioning them in the media and garnering visibility.
Nekeda got her start working in Player and Talent Relations for the NBA. She later worked at WME Agency and ICM Partners booking celebrities and sports stars for book deals, voice-overs, TV commercials, and sitcom appearances. She honed formidable negotiation skills. Building and nurturing relationships has become one of her superpowers. Not surprisingly, she boasts a golden contacts list.
Ms. Newell-Hall has been at the forefront of innovative PR tactics like product placement and brand integration for many years after pioneering product-gifting suites at FOX’s 2nd Teen Choice Awards and subsequently setting an industry standard. Nekeda spent five years as the Associate Director of Entertainment Marketing at Nike, where she led entertainment marketing, ops, music, film, and TV for the sports giant. She worked with Usher, Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child, Justin Timberlake, Elton John, Celine Dion, and many others.
Nekeda resides in LA. She co-hosts the The Sole Chronicles podcast, is a graduate of Grambling State University, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Nekeda’s ultimate goal is to leverage her PR, corporate, entertainment, and sports relationships to help make the world a better and more joyful place.