Biography

Nicola (“Nikki”) Graves, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization and Management at Goizueta Business School at Emory University, where she has spent over two decades teaching professional communication strategy. Her teaching is defined by a rigorous experiential learning model that partners students with corporate and nonprofit clients to solve real-world business challenges.

Dr. Graves specializes in developing students into highly effective communicators who think critically, collaborate strategically, and deliver persuasive, high-impact presentations. Her work integrates communication strategy, storytelling, and leadership development, equipping students to perform in complex, high-stakes environments.

A recognized leader in experiential education, Dr. Graves has secured multiple grants to build Atlanta-based community-engaged learning partnerships. By embedding community partnerships into her courses, she ensures students apply communication strategies in real-world contexts—developing empathy, enhancing interpersonal effectiveness, and building the collaboration, teamwork, and presentation skills required to deliver persuasive, professional outcomes.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Graves is a certified Birkman Method executive coach who has worked with leaders and organizations on team effectiveness, conflict resolution, and communication strategy. She has designed and delivered programs for global organizations and executive audiences nationally and internationally.

Dr. Graves holds a Ph.D. in English Literature and Women’s Studies from Emory University and brings a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective to business education—blending the humanities, leadership development, and applied strategy to prepare students to lead, communicate, and influence with purpose.

Media

  • How to Master the Subtle and Sometimes Blatantly Obvious Art of Persuasion

Education

  • PhD in Women's Studies
    Emory University
  • MA in Women's Studies
    Emory University
  • MA in English
    Auburn University
  • BA in English
    Auburn University

Communicating Through Change with Cox Communications

EmoryBusiness
February 10, 2026
At the end of the semester, four student teams were chosen by their professors—Savage and Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of organization and management—to deliver final presentations to the client.

Student Strategies Shine in Amazon Ads Case Competition

EmoryBusiness
July 31, 2025
The project took roughly a month to complete, and the student teams presented their final presentations in class to their professors—Molly Epstein, professor in the practice of organization and Management, Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of organization and oanagement, and Steve Savage 21EvMBA, assistant professor in the practice of organization and management.

Goizueta Students Use Business Skills to Support Cure Violence

EmoryBusiness
July 9, 2025
The interrupters, all of whom had served lengthy sentences in federal prison for gun-related crimes, were able to bring the epidemic nature of violence “from an abstract theory down to a personal level” explains Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of organization and management.

What to Do When a Person Won’t. Stop. Talking.

The New York Times
October 24, 2025
If the monologuist tries to talk over you, continue speaking in a steady, neutral tone, said Nikki Graves, an associate professor of management communication at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Even if you feel awkward, she explained, don’t stop until the person backs down.

Goizueta BBA Students Innovate Winning Strategy for UPS Challenge

EmoryBusiness
January 29, 2025
Three weeks after the initial meeting, the teams presented their plans to their Bcomm professors—Savage, Molly Epstein, professor in the practice of Organization & Management, and Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of Organization & Management. Following those presentations, each professor selected two student teams to present their strategies to the UPS team.

BBA Students Develop Targeted Marketing Strategies for Start-Up Mental Health App

EmoryBusiness
February 14, 2024
Joining Epstein were Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of organization and management and Steve Savage, associate professor in the practice of organization and management. After the presentations, each professor selected two finalist teams to present their strategies to the client.

BBA Students Tackle Gen Z Loyalty in 2023 Case Competition for PwC

EmoryBusiness
June 29, 2023
The PwC challenge continues the legacy of previous interactive competitions for BBA students. For each new competition client, Molly Epstein, professor in the practice of organization and management, and Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of organization and management, guide students on a transformative semester-long journey of brainstorming real-world business challenges, group problem solving, idea and strategy refinement, and presentation to client executives in a competitive setting.

BBA Student Teams Compete to Grow Alumna-Founded Gold Rush Vinyl

EmoryBusiness
April 18, 2023
For the Business Communication Strategy Case Competition, Molly Epstein, professor in the practice of organization and management, and Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of organization and management, guide students on a transformative semester-long journey of brainstorming real-world business challenges, group problem solving, idea and strategy refinement, and presentation to client executives in a competitive setting.

BBA students create strategies to aid Accenture recruiting efforts

EmoryBusiness
June 3, 2020
“Our students adapted to the changed circumstances and new learning environment with grace and agility,” said Nikki Graves, associate professor in the practice of Organization & Management. According to Graves, the goal of the Business Communication Strategy course is to help students develop the written, verbal and communications skills employers most need in new hires. The course philosophy is that students “learn by doing.”

Concerns about the future of people’s well-being

Pew Research Center
April 17, 2018
Nikki Graves, an associate professor at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, said, “We currently live in a culture that fosters attention-deficit disorder because of hyperconnectivity. I have been teaching at the college level since 1993, and I can see a definitive decline in students’ ability to focus on details and in general. Additionally, I believe that the research on the relationship between hyperconnectivity and this has merit.”

Happiness, not convenience, is what employees want from their perks

Human Resources
December 1, 2016
But what's HR to do when a juice bar, free snacks, or even the gaze of an adoring dog at work won’t compensate for a bad boss, questions Nikki Graves, assistant professor of management communication; as well as director of the Business Writing Center, at Emory University, Goizueta Business School.