Ngozi Okaro is an activist for economic, environmental, and social justice. She is an expert in strategic planning and operations, leadership development, and innovation, and has special expertise in mapping and managing change for growth-stage enterprises. 

Ngozi founded Custom Collaborative to serve two primary constituencies: no/low-income women who deserve fair compensation, and thoughtful consumers who want quality clothes that fit and affirm their bodies. She innately understands the challenges facing women who love nice clothes but whose bodies do not conform to most ready-to-wear templates — the majority of US clothing buyers. She founded Custom Collaborative also to advocate for a fashion industry that honors the planet and people. Ngozi builds bridges in and between organizations and individuals to create opportunity and access.  Her background includes leading initiatives at National Urban League and its affiliates, INSEAD, and Yale. 

Custom Collaborative has evolved to work alongside designers who need skilled employees and production services, providing a valuable industry service, and contributing to strong local economies. 

Ngozi is known for her incisive reasoning and executable strategies -- gained through 15+ years of transformational strategy and management successes. She is a natural team-builder who advances organizations through revenue generation and cost containment, human capital development, and stakeholder engagement.

Among other distinctions, Ngozi is a 2022 Goldman Sachs Black Woman Impact Leader, 2021 Conscious Fashion Campaign & United Nations Office for Partnerships SDG Honoree, Crain’s Notable Women Business Owner, and AARP Purpose Prize Fellow, 2020 SOCAP (Conscious Company Media) and Kate Spade “World-Changing Women in Conscious Business” awardee, 2019 NYC Fair Trade Coalition "Changemaker of the Year", and New York Women's Foundation "Spirit of Entrepreneurship” winner. She is a highly sought-after keynote speaker and advisor.

Ngozi is certified by New York University’s Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising, was a 2014 Environmental Leadership Program Fellow, and is a graduate of the Coro Leadership New York program. She is a graduate of both Georgetown University Law Center and Morgan State University and is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and New York.