124. Build a 230-Year Legacy with Cheryl McKissack Daniel

How do you build a legacy that lasts five generations?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Cheryl McKissack Daniel, Former CEO of McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority and woman-owned design and construction firm in the U.S. From JFK Airport to Columbia University, Cheryl’s work shapes the very skyline of New York.

As a fifth-generation builder, Cheryl didn’t always plan to run the family firm. She once dreamed of being an airline stewardess! But she realized that rather than climbing a corporate ladder where few looked like her, she could chart her own destiny and amplify a 230-year history of Black excellence.

She shares her “5 Ps” for building a lasting legacy:

•Persistence: Show up in rooms where you aren’t expected. Your presence is resistance.

•Preparedness: Excellence erases doubt. Always be the most prepared person in the room.

•Perseverance: Stay the course when progress feels slow. Legacies aren’t built on a single win.

•Productivity: Let your results speak for themselves. Quality is undeniable.

•Prayer: Center yourself. Clarity and peace are your competitive advantages.

Cheryl’s story models what it means to stand on the shoulders of ancestors and open doors for the next generation.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/episode-124-build-a-230-year-legacy-with-cheryl-mckissack-daniel