Meet Yvonne Cherell

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yvonne Cherell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Yvonne, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?

My self-discipline comes from cultivating and curating my personal development by embracing a growth mindset. There were times growing up and during my early career stage that I allowed others’ opinions of me, to shake my confidence in my skills and abilities. From those experiences, I learned that embracing a growth mindset means that when life may not be going well or I may not be performing at my best, it is not the totality of my competencies or skills. It is a temporary state, and I will always bounce back through motivation and self-discipline. My growth mindset allows me to pivot from a temporary setback or challenge and redirect my energy to improving my situation through new positive efforts and learning.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

In January 2025, I will celebrate four years as the first CEO for the Ohio Urban Community Action Network (OUCAN). OUCAN’s mission is to empower Ohio’s urban Community Action Agencies through education, networking, and advocating for policies that alleviate poverty and promote self-sufficiency. Our agencies serve as the leading resource in breaking the cycle of poverty in urban Ohio, ensuring residents are treated with dignity, and have the resources to prosper in their everyday lives.

With more than 25 years career experience in human services and nonprofit leadership, my eclectic background also includes my fierce advocacy skills and passion for public policy and legislation. I have been fortunate to use my voice to support and elevate legislation that promotes fairness, justice, and equity for all people. I am personally committed to issues germane to centering and protecting Black women, anti-poverty policies and promoting self-sufficiency for low-income households and fighting against injustice across industries and communities.

I am proud to share that I recently earned my Master of Public Administration from Franklin University, where I will use new skills in data collection, policy analysis and research to create innovative changes in the communities I serve. Peter Northouse says, “leadership is a process to influence a group of individuals to achieve a common goal,” and I am ready to continue to my role in this work.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I consider myself multidisciplinary and my career is evident of my diverse skills and knowledge. Navigating between various issues and positions of leadership has allowed me to build great relationships in the community and strengthen my leadership skills.

As a Generation Xer, I grew up with the lesson that being marketable and having a competitive portfolio gives you a better advantage. I did not always embrace being multitalented or a “jack of all trades.” However, over the years, I learned to embrace my versatility in the affirmative and use my knowledge and talents in different areas.

Another defining moments in my leadership journey was my experience through the African American Leadership Academy (AALA) in Columbus, OH, founded by Larry and Donna James. AALA is a community-based leadership development program that expands both the number and effectiveness of African American leaders in central Ohio. Through my cohort, Class IX, we studied from Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath, and Barry Conchie. After completing the Gallup leadership poll, I learned that my leadership domain is executing. Executors are strong at driving and fulfilling strategies and are results oriented. I set ambitious goals and high standards and work hard until I achieve those goals, both personally and professionally. Being an executor, as an authentic leader is why I am deeply committed to self-discipline and embracing a growth mindset. I recognize that influencing people towards a common goal means that I am always working on myself, my communication skills, my people skills, and other competencies to make me a better leader.

The third quality that has been impactful throughout my journey is a skill I encourage for folks who are in the early stages in their leadership and career journey – and that is confidence. As controversial as the term may be as a “skill,” confidence is a trait/quality or core that many of us want more of. I am a naturally confident individual. I believe in my innate skills and abilities, and I lean into my own competencies and achieving outcomes. However, there are times and have been situations in which my confidence was shaken or faltered. And like other skills, confidence must be cultivated and nurtured regularly.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am excited about deepening my work in research, data analysis and policy development. I am looking forward to working with research partners and advocacy groups both domestic and global organizations who are advancing work in centering Black women issues, anti-poverty policies and fighting to end inequality and injustice wherever it exists.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Rae Holloway-Collins
Purple Star Photography
www.PurpleStarPhotography.com

Brandyn McElroy
OVL Photo
Photography Services
https://www.olvphoto.com/

Toiana Tucker
Multi-Genre Photographer
Love Angels Photography
www.toituckerphotography.com

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