Episode 34

What Adoption Taught Me about Leadership feat. Christal M. Cherry

In This Episode . . . 

The talented principal and CEO at The Board Pro, Christal Cherry shares with us the struggles she faced in her dating life, the challenges she faced when she decided to adopt at 45, and how her little boy has not only made her a better person but has taught her to be a better leader.

Meet Christal Cherry:

Christal’s Social Moniker is I'm a Bold Bitch! and she’s best known for being direct, loyal, and vocal!

“She pushed through her fear and did it anyway!”

Christal M. Cherry is a nationally recognized nonprofit executive and professionally trained fundraiser. With over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, she has supported higher education institutions, human services organizations, and faith-based missions. Christal also served as a Senior Consultant at the GA Center for Nonprofits and is currently the CEO of The Board Pro, a consulting firm designed to transform leaders through board service.

As The Board Pro, Christal’s works with nonprofit boards to coach, train, and counsel them to be effective governing and fundraising arms for their organizations. She also assists with finding qualified and diverse talent to add to boards, onboarding, culture assessments, and diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

Christal earned a MA in Counseling from Hampton University, a BA in Liberal Arts from Hofstra University, and professional development certifications in nonprofit leadership, social media fundraising, and nonprofit management.

She currently serves on the board of the Greater Atlanta chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Villages of Carver YMCA. She is a regular trainer and facilitator with CANDID, Qgiv, Network for Good, Bloomerang, Kindful, and the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy where she facilitates webinars and teaches courses in fundraising, board development, and equity and inclusion. Christal has been a guest on multiple podcasts and enjoy serving as a requested expert on board matters. She is contributing author in Collecting Courage, a documenting of racism and survival by fourteen accomplished Black fundraisers working across the United States and Canada. Her first children’s book: Mac and Cheez: Being Different is Okay will be released on Amazon on November 21, 2021. Christal also enjoys her membership in the African American Development Officers Network, Toastmasters, and F3, Fabulous Female Fundraisers which she founded. 

Episode Highlights:

  • (14:05) Challenges of adopting; 
  • (19:15) How life changed after adoption; 
  • (41:19) The Board Pro;

Connect with Christal:

Facebook: @theboardpro

LinkedIn: @Christal M Cherry

The Board Pro: https://www.theboardpro.com

Episode Resources:

Support the Show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/managemintmadeeasy)

About the Podcast

Show artwork for ManageMint Made Easy formerly Let's Take This Offline
ManageMint Made Easy formerly Let's Take This Offline
A Minty-Fresh Take On Leadership

About your host

Profile picture for Kishshana Palmer

Kishshana Palmer

Kishshana Palmer, CFRE is the author of Busy Is a Four-Letter Word: A Guide to Achieving More By Doing Less, uni-mom, trainer, educator, author and professional speaker. She is the CEO of ManageMint, Inc., Founder of “The Rooted Collaborative” - a global learning community for women leaders of color in the social sector - and host of ManageMint Made Easy formerly Let’s Take This Offline: The Podcast for Everyday Leaders. When she is not starring in the Life of My Queenager (okay it’s not a real show, but it could be), she is dropping knowledge about leadership and life. Kishshana is the epitome of your classic 90's Queens homegirl and quintessential corner office executive. She is your daily dose of Claire Huxtable with a side of Blanche Devereaux.