Tauqilla Manning,
MBA, BSN, RN

Tauqilla Manning, MBA, BSN, RN, is a nurse leader, founder, and status quo disruptor committed to advancing equity, protection, and professional excellence for Black nurses.

With nearly two decades in nursing, including over a decade leading travel and interim teams, Tauqilla has built a reputation for stepping into complex environments and challenging systems that no longer serve patients or the nurses within them. Her work spans bedside care, leadership, and system-level impact, with a consistent focus on improving patient outcomes while strengthening the voice of nurses in healthcare.

Her career path reflects both discipline and determination. She began as a CNA, advanced to LPN, and later earned her BSN as a Registered Nurse, ultimately completing her MBA to expand her impact into leadership, strategy, and organizational influence.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tauqilla served in critical leadership roles, including directing Maryland’s Alternative Care Site hospital and contributing to statewide testing initiatives. Her leadership during this time earned her recognition from the Maryland Army National Guard.

Tauqilla is the Founder and CEO of Black Nurses Week®, a grassroots movement created to empower and protect Black nurses while building a thriving, connected community. What began as a response to a personal experience of racial discrimination has grown into a platform focused on advocacy, leadership development, and collective impact.

Today, her work is centered on expanding the reach and influence of Black Nurses Week®, creating spaces where Black nurses can build, connect, and lead without compromise. Her mission is clear: to ensure that Black nurses are not only present in healthcare, but supported, respected, and positioned to influence the future of the profession.