Tallahassee, FL – April 21, 2026 — Nada Usina, CEO & Co-Founder of NU Advisory Partners, an AI-native executive search and advisory firm, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Florida Award by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US), recognizing leaders building and shaping the future of business.
Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates founders and CEOs who disrupt markets, drive innovation, and create lasting impact across industries and communities. Finalists are selected by an independent panel of judges based on entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth, and long-term value creation.
“I’ve spent my career stepping into moments where the outcome wasn’t obvious and building toward what it could become. NU came from that same mindset. We saw an industry that hadn’t evolved and decided to reimagine it using technology, data, and AI at the core. This recognition reflects the team we’ve built, the clients who trust us, and the belief that better is possible if you’re willing to challenge what’s always been done,” said Usina.
Founded in 2023 by Usina alongside co-founders Meredith Rosenberg, Mar Hernandez, and Libby Naumes, NU Advisory Partners was built to break the mold in an industry that hasn’t meaningfully changed in decades. The firm integrates tech, data, and AI into every search, making the process smarter, faster, and built for how businesses operate today, while delivering a higher-quality experience for clients, candidates, and the team.
Under Usina’s leadership, NU has rapidly scaled into a globally recognized firm, advising leading companies, investors, and institutions across private equity, venture capital, technology, sports, media and entertainment, education, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, consumer, industrial, and infrastructure and energy. The firm integrates AI into every stage of the search process, enabling faster, more informed decisions while maintaining a high-touch, relationship-driven approach. In 2025, Hunt Scanlon Media, a leading authority on the executive search and talent advisory industry, recognized NU Advisory Partners as the fastest-growing executive search firm, and in 2026, the firm was named among the top 25 executive search firms in the Americas.
Usina brings decades of experience across technology, media, and executive leadership. Prior to co-founding NU Advisory Partners, she held senior roles at companies including Nokia, broadcast.com, Yahoo!, and XOS Technologies, and served as President of a public SaaS company. She also spent over a decade advising boards and executive teams and served on the Executive Committee at Russell Reynolds Associates.
Florida has played a central role in the firm’s growth. NU has team members across the state and partners with leading organizations, investors, and institutions on high-impact leadership appointments, helping shape the region’s continued rise as a hub for private capital, technology, and financial services. Usina, an FSU alum, is also active in the state’s business and academic communities, serving on the Seminole Boosters Executive Committee and the College of Business board.
Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists represent a broad range of industries, including technology, consumer products, financial services, and healthcare. Regional award winners will be announced on June 12 in Miami and will advance to national consideration later this year.
ABOUT NU ADVISORY PARTNERS
NU Advisory Partners is an AI-native executive search and advisory firm specializing in senior executive, operating, and board roles, with deep expertise in private capital-backed environments. The firm leverages tech, data, and AI to make search smarter, faster, and built for how businesses move today in a way that no other firm does. NU delivers high-touch service and unmatched networks from a highly experienced team, and gives you leadership talent that drives long-term value. nuadvisorypartners.com
Media Contact:
Zev Newman, Director of Marketing
zev@nusearch.com
SOURCE NU Advisory Partners
