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Cheryl Mayberry McKissack
Maker interview details
Interviews
- December 17, 2008
- February 7, 2008
Profession
- Category:
MediaMakers
- Occupation(s):
Marketing Executive
Birthplace
- Born: June 24, 1955
- Birth Location: Seattle, Washington
Favorites
- Favorite Color: Black
- Favorite Food: Seafood
- Favorite Time of Year: Fall
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Italy
Favorite Quote
"We Have To Do What We Need To Do Now So That We Can Do What We Want To Do In The Future."
Biography
Founder, CEO and president of Nia Enterprises L.L.C., Cheryl Mayberry McKissack was born on June 24, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Born the middle child and only girl to Thelma and Donald Mayberry, McKissack attended Seattle’s Dunlap Elementary School and graduated from Franklin High School. She went on to earn her B.S. degree in political science in two and a half years from Seattle University in 1976.
After graduating from Seattle University, McKissack began a career with the IBM Corporation as a sales and marketing executive. While fulfilling her duties at IBM, McKissack decided to continue her education by enrolling at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. After graduating with her M.B.A in 1989, McKissack became the Western Area Branch Manager for the IBM Corporation in San Francisco, California, where she served until 1992. Afterwards, McKissack became Vice President of Sales and a founding member of the Network Systems Division at 3Com. In 1997, she served as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for Open Port Technologies, Inc.
In 2000, McKissack founded Nia Enterprises L.L.C., a Chicago based marketing data solutions firm designed to provide companies with direct access to the consumer habits of African American families, particularly focusing on African American women. Nia Enterprises L.L.C. functions through various outlets including NiaOnline and Nia Access. McKissack has been featured in several publications and is the co-editor of a series of books including The Nia Guide For Black Women: Balancing Work and Life and The Nia Guide For Black Women: Achieving Career Success On Your Terms. McKissack has been recognized for her entrepreneurial achievements and has received many honors including the Marketing Opportunities in Business and Entertainment’s (MOBE) “Influencers and Innovators of the Internet and Technology” Award and the Chicago United People of Color Leadership Award. In 2006, she was named by The Network Journal as one of the 25 Influential Top Women, and in 2007, McKissack was awarded the State Farm Phenomenal Woman Award-Business Entrepreneur.
McKissack and her husband, Eric, live in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo courtesy of Victor Powell
Previews from the Digital Archive
Watch the full interview in the Digital Archive
- Slating of Cheryl Mayberry McKissack's interview, session 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack lists her favorites, session 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her mother's family background, pt. 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her mother's family background, pt. 2
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her maternal great-grandmother
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her father's family background
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her parents' move to Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her earliest childhood memory
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her childhood in Coffeyville, Kansas
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her paternal grandfather's church, pt. 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her paternal grandfather's church, pt. 2
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her neighborhood in Wichita, Kansas
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers celebrating Christmas
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about segregation in Wichita, Kansas
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers moving from Kansas to Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls the Central neighborhood in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, pt. 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack reflects upon her family's move to a majority-white neighborhood
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her school environment in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers Rainier Beach Junior Senior High School in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her experiences of bullying at Rainier Beach Junior Senior High School in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers how she coped with bullying
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls transferring to Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the racial atmosphere of Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the racial demographics of Franklin High School
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her experiences at Franklin High School
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the political activism at Franklin High School
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls Seattle University in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her parents' divorce
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the demographic changes in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers graduating from Seattle University in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls political activism at Seattle colleges
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her college coursework
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her trip to Europe
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her career at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the workplace culture at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes lessons from her time at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about diversity at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls how she came to study at the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls becoming a branch manager at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her M.B.A. degree program
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her personal life during her career at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the technological advancements at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her formalwear rental business, pt. 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her formalwear rental business, pt. 2
- Slating of Cheryl Mayberry McKissack's interview, session 2
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack lists her favorites, session 2
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her father's upbringing
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her early experiences in Alabama
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her mother's move to New York City
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her likeness to her parents
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her earliest childhood memories
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls attending a Baptist church in Wichita, Kansas
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her mother's move to Seattle, Washington, pt. 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers returning with her family to Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the sights, sounds and smells of her childhood
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her mother's move to Seattle, Washington, pt. 2
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls moving to Rainier Beach in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about Dunlap Elementary School in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers the holidays
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her experiences of school integration
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her transition to Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers her parents' divorce
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her aspiration to attend college
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her college education
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers backpacking in Europe
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her backpacking experiences in Europe
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls lessons from her trip to Europe
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the discrimination against black women at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the training programs at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the products of IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the office environment at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her career at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the lack of black executives at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her interest in sales
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her move to Chicago, Illinois
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her decision to attend the Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her program at the Kellogg School of Management
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her decision to leave IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls the early personal computing market
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls the opposition to affinity groups at IBM
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her first entrepreneurial venture
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her early success as an entrepreneur
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers joining the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her interview at the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the mission of the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her role at the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the growth of the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her colleagues at the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls her experiences at the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her daily activities at the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the national expansion of the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers the sale of the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls lessons from her time at the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls leaving the U.S. Robotics Corporation
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her lack of corporate role models
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes Open Port Technology, Inc.
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack recalls the closure of Open Port Technology, Inc.
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack remembers founding Nia Enterprises, LLC
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes Nia Enterprises, LLC
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes the changes at Nia Enterprises, LLC
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her corporate board memberships, pt. 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about her corporate board memberships, pt. 2
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack describes her civic activities
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about teaching at Kellogg School of Management in Evanston, Illinois
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack shares her advice to future businesspeople
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack talks about the election of President Barack Obama
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack reflects upon contemporary racism in the United States, pt. 1
- Cheryl Mayberry McKissack reflects upon contemporary racism in the United States, pt. 2