Sharanda Smith
Founder & CEO, Nashville Black Hospitality Group
Professional Bio
Sharanda Nechole Smith is a Nashville-based community strategist, civic leader, and founder of the Nashville Black Hospitality Group (NBHG)—a groundbreaking initiative designed to elevate Black-owned businesses within the city’s $11 billion tourism economy. With over two decades of experience spanning higher education, nonprofit development, and media, Sharanda is widely recognized for creating programs that build economic ecosystems, amplify underrepresented voices, and shape inclusive narratives. Through NBHG, she has brought together over 100 local businesses across food, beverage, and experiential services, while leading vendor readiness trainings, public panels, and strategic partnerships that center equity in hospitality. Her work is helping to redefine Nashville’s tourism landscape and position the city as a national model for inclusive destination development.
Beyond her leadership in hospitality, Sharanda has produced more than 300 public-facing events, co-founded social justice initiatives, and serves on multiple nonprofit boards focused on intergenerational leadership and community advancement. She is the founder of the Kelly Miller Smith Foundation—honoring her grandfather, a prominent civil rights leader—and was instrumental in securing the naming of a Nashville bridge and street in his honor. Sharanda also co-leads an annual social justice convocation in partnership with Fisk and Vanderbilt Universities and recently launched the Pamela Lynn Carter Leadership Award to celebrate women in civic leadership. Named one of the Nashville Business Journal’s Top 10 People to Watch in 2025, she holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lindenwood University and a BS in Liberal Studies from Belmont University and continues to build a future where cities grow through equity, visibility, and shared progress.
Beyond her leadership in hospitality, Sharanda has produced more than 300 public-facing events, co-founded social justice initiatives, and serves on multiple nonprofit boards focused on intergenerational leadership and community advancement. She is the founder of the Kelly Miller Smith Foundation—honoring her grandfather, a prominent civil rights leader—and was instrumental in securing the naming of a Nashville bridge and street in his honor. Sharanda also co-leads an annual social justice convocation in partnership with Fisk and Vanderbilt Universities and recently launched the Pamela Lynn Carter Leadership Award to celebrate women in civic leadership. Named one of the Nashville Business Journal’s Top 10 People to Watch in 2025, she holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lindenwood University and a BS in Liberal Studies from Belmont University and continues to build a future where cities grow through equity, visibility, and shared progress.