Dr. Lakeya Cherry, DSW, MSSW, ACC, Partner at Evolution, is an executive leadership and team coach who dedicated her career to the growth and development of individuals and their organizations. As an ICF-certified coach, a StartingBloc Fellow, a Google #IamRemarkable Facilitator, and a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, she believes that when leaders are empowered to reach their fullest potential, they will be able to support those around them more effectively.
Her personal experience with coaching ignited her passion for supporting individuals, teams, and organizations to lead more authentically and courageously. Her former clients include Glassdoor, LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI), Snap, Cisco, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Southern Veterinary Partners (SVP), The Trust powered by the NFL Players Association, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Chicago Foundation for Women, Seattle Children’s Hospital, UCSD Palliative Care, Black Administrators of Child Welfare, and the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute amongst many others.
Dr. Cherry is the former Chief Executive Officer of The Network for Social Work Management, an international organization dedicated to strengthening and mobilizing diverse social impact leaders through education, leadership development, networking, and community-building. Under her leadership, the Network has expanded globally and introduced transformative programming that produced better leaders and enhanced organizational cultures.
She also serves as a Commissioner on San Diego’s Commission on the Status of Women, which helps to address the needs of San Diego women in their social, economic, and vocational pursuits.
Her approach is informed by her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California, where she was honored with the coveted Order of Arête award, her M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University, and her B.A. in Psychology and Legal Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Additional qualifications: Team Coaching, Psychological Safety, EQi 2.0 and EQ 360 certified, Diversity and Inclusion and Women's Entrepreneurship certification (eCornell), and Nonprofit Executive Leadership certificate (National Human Services Assembly).
“Lakeya is one of those rare coaches and business leaders that has it all. She has a way of communicating with entrepreneurs. In fact, Lakeya leads with the often unsaid, which screams she understands what’s really going on with entrepreneurs from a business and personal perspective. Lakeya’s insights and coaching experience with start-up companies makes her a real stand-out partner for any entrepreneur leader looking to scale their business enterprise and not lose their soul.
The COVID pandemic was an unexpected catalyst that has spurned evolutionary changes in the marketplace. Nothing will ever be the same. Lakeya’s experience and insights provide a grounding perspective for business owners desiring to maintain balance in their lives as they enter the unknown territory of the future. “
Ronald J. Steptoe, CMR, DABDA
CEO / Co-Founder
Warrior Centric Health, Inc
“I would highly recommend executive coaching and Dare to Lead Training with Lakeya. Her knowledge, integrity, and ability to see the best in you and support you in seeing the same is exceptional. I have been working with Lakeya over the past 6 months as part of a Dare to Lead group and individually through executive coaching. She supported me in setting goals, working through my personal barriers, and seeing the infinite possibilities in my potential. She has a no-nonsense style and will call you out when you are holding yourself back in a way that is supportive and encouraging. She also holds herself to the highest standards and moral code that is essential in today's business world. She's available when you need her in times that are challenging and may need an extra vote of confidence. Hands down, she is the best, and I will work with her again in the future!!”
Jodi Patton, MBA, MPA-HA
Vice President-Account Management
1upHealth, Inc.