50 Leading Women: Dr. Cheryl Jackson

In honor and celebration of our Women’s Division‘s 50th Anniversary, we will be spotlighting 50 Leading Women making an impact, raising their voice, and leading the next generation of women in the workforce and Plano community.

Introducing, Dr. Cheryl Jackson the Founder of Minnie’s Food Pantry and our 2022 Women’s Division Board President. Over the last decade, Minnie’s Food Pantry has served over 20 million meals in North Texas. Cheryl  has gained national recognition through her appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Locally, our members and the Plano community know Dr. Jackson as Cheryl ACTION Jackson.

1. Do you remember your first time attending one of our Women’s Division events? Tell us about that experience and what made you want to come back.

The first time I attended a WD meeting I remember thinking it was an incredible way to celebrate women and I wanted to return to meet new people and learn more about the program

2. Describe your leadership style and how you lead others.

My leadership style is delegating and trusting my team to do the work properly. I work hard on changing culture and emphasizing the importance of the phrase “everyone matters”.

 3. How can women develop their leadership skills in the workforce?

Women can develop their leadership skills by learning as much as they can, mentoring other women and most importantly leading by example.

4. What are the most important decisions you make as a leader? 
The future and destiny of Minnie’s Food Pantry unfolds on the decisions that I have made and that I continue to make. Therefore, every decision is an important decision.  The most important decision I make as a leader is how to forecast and acquire food for a community that depends on me and a child that depends on me to provide a meal for them.

5. What has been one of your biggest joys as a leader?  

One of my biggest joys was telling the part time workers during Covid-19 that I wasn’t going to have to terminate their employment during the holidays and seeing them hug each other and jump for joy was beyond priceless.  I get joy thinking that I have achieved almost all the things I promised my mother, Ms. Minnie, I was going to do when she was alive (she’s in heaven now).  The most joy I received is seeing the tears flow down someone’s face because Minnie’s Food Pantry provided something as simple as a meal to them.

As for Women’s Division the joy I have is looking around the room and seeing women and men of all nationalities at our monthly luncheon.

And of course, I was so overjoyed when Oprah Winfrey said yes to being the keynote speaker at Minnie’s Food pantry gala. 

6. What strategies could be used to promote inclusion in the workplace?  

There’s a simple strategy that I use that sometimes upsets people and it’s just a simple question, “What does diversity look like in this company or organization?” To some it creates joy as they explain how they are intentional about DEI and others you can see the lump in their throat when they must answer that question.  The question is just meant to create awareness.

7. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

I would tell my 25-year-old self not to allow people to minimize who I am because I didn’t have a college degree.  I would tell my 25-year-old self I belong at whatever table I am seated at and to be a voice wherever I go.

8. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders?  

I would tell a female leader to be BOLD in her speech, be unapologetic about who they are, know what their value is and don’t let anyone decide their fate.  If a person doesn’t value them then move to the person who will.  Life is too short to be waiting on someone to validate you.  I learned that the hard way.

9. Who inspired you and why?

I am inspired by sons, RJ, and Artis, who forgave me for working so much when they were younger and who learned from me what not to do. I am inspired by Bill and Vicki Adkins who took the death of their son Brett and started a foundation to provide over $300,000 in scholarships for kids in underserved communities. I am inspired by my husband who is very sick but still works hard to take care of me.  I am inspired by my team and the volunteers at Minnie’s Food Pantry for distributing over 20 million meals and they are just getting started. I am inspired by my grandkids who always have a twinkle in their eye when they see me and sometimes a tear when we depart.  I am inspired Chandra, who takes care of my brother, Darius after a terrible accident that put him in a wheelchair.  I am inspired by Shovon who has built 3 houses and by my Executive Team Zoya, Erica and Lynette who’s shoulders are relied on for millions of meals every year and they always come through. I am inspired by all of my strong sisters that are entrepreneurs who started from the bottom!  I am inspired by the person who starts with nothing but a dream, who’s laughed at, talked about and looked down on UNTIL they WIN!!  It’s called the least of these and I unapologetically root for the underdog!

Finally, I am inspired by my mother and father Minnie and Robert Hawthorne who are both deceased, but they spoke words into my heart and soul that I hear when I need them the most.

10. What do you want to be remembered for? 

My mother was a Pastor and the Sunday before she died in her sermon she said and I quote “If I were to die today, I want my tombstone to read, “She loved God and she Loved God’s people” and my mother died that same week. I would like my tombstone to have those exact same words. I want to be remembered for helping as many people on earth as I could, while I could, with what I could.  I want to be remembered for giving a smile, hug, or a kind word to everyone I meet.