Her Story
About Tenisha
I currently serve as Vice President of External Affairs for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, a role I have held since January 2026, following nearly two years with the organization. In this capacity, I lead statewide advocacy efforts for Girl Scouts of New Jersey, advancing policy priorities on behalf of councils across the state.
Beyond this role, I am the Founder of Outdoors On Purpose, established in 2020, a Black woman-led nonprofit that engages individuals in outdoor experiences that foster joy, connection, and well-being. Our work centers Black and Brown communities and operates at the intersection of social and environmental justice. We advance policy initiatives focused on equitable access to quality outdoor spaces, food systems transformation, and land use, including agriculture and land acquisition across New Jersey and the broader region.
I also serve as Principal Consultant of TNM Consulting, LLC, where I provide strategic support in government relations, public policy, program management, and special projects. My clients have included elected officials and their cabinets, municipalities, and anchor institutions.
Since beginning my career in 2006, my work has spanned direct service, arts and culture, community and economic development, and public health. I started in grant writing, fund development, and philanthropy, and through that work developed a multidisciplinary skill set rooted in storytelling, strategy, and resource development. I often describe my professional approach as adaptive—able to evolve in response to the needs of communities and organizations—while remaining grounded in purpose and impact.
One of my most meaningful professional achievements has been contributing to the transformation of an underinvested community—supporting efforts over several years to improve quality of life, strengthen small business networks, and help catalyze economic growth into a more vibrant and thriving ecosystem.
Across all of my roles, my work is anchored in relationship-building, advancing organizational missions, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and engaging stakeholders at all levels of the public and private sectors. At the core, I remain focused on ensuring that the needs of communities and constituents are met with intention, strategy, and care.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tenisha
01What do you attribute your success to?
At the core of my work are the principles and values instilled in me early on, particularly the importance of using my skills, gifts, and talents in service to others. I have long recognized that access to opportunity is not equitable, and that many individuals do not have the same pathways to excel or advance.
Having been afforded meaningful opportunities throughout my youth and early career, I was taught that true impact comes not from holding those experiences for oneself, but from extending them to others. I firmly believe that the value of opportunity is amplified when it is shared, creating a ripple effect that benefits individuals and communities alike.
This perspective has grounded my commitment to service and reciprocity. I approach my work with the understanding that my skills are transferable across sectors and challenges, allowing me to operate with both adaptability and intention. I often describe my professional journey as dynamic and multifaceted—evolving in response to need—while remaining rooted in a comprehensive and purpose-driven approach.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
One advice that I would give young women entering the field today is to be flexible. Flexible in the sense that you will learn and see new things that feel maybe foreign to you or unfamiliar to you, but know that the new things that you are seeing is hard work and labor that those that have come before you have put in to lay the foundation. I know oftentimes we want to toss away the old to use the new, but sometimes the old does have some value. There are some hidden gems and definitely some key assets that we want to make sure we uphold in work that is new moving forward. So just being flexible and open, and having a level of astuteness to take in heed and adhering to maybe foundational work that is critical to your success moving forward.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The main opportunities I see are opportunities to amplify and bolster our next generation of leaders. I think there is a new wave of young people coming in ready to roll their sleeves up and hit the ground running, so I see that as a ripe opportunity that I'm often investing in. The biggest challenges, I would say, is the climate we live in as it pertains to political strife. There is a lot of lack of willingness to collaborate and either see different perspectives in order to work towards a solution. But as I said, I think there's a new wave of young people and generation that are feeling very unapologetic and just going in unapologetically and firmly and confidently to change that perspective.
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