PURPOSEFUL PURSUITS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Registered Pharmacist
• Registered Pharmacist, OBI Medical Pharmacy

Athena is a registered pharmacist who has worked in independent retail pharmacy for over 10 years. Dr. Chukwu began her career as a pharmacy technician before becoming a registered pharmacist. Through her academic endeavors, she developed a strong sense of devotion to mentorship and student development. In 2018, Dr. Chukwu was awarded the Student Educator and Mentor award from Rosalind Franklin University College of Pharmacy for her dedication to mentoring and assisting students in their academic, professional, and personal development. Athena serves in the role of Secretary for PPNE's Board of Directors.

Job Titles:

• City Administrator, City of Lathrup Village

Sheryl started work as Lathrup Village's city administrator in 2018. Previously, she served over three years as the city manager for the community of Albion. Dr. Mitchell began her public service career working for Detroit City Council for 13 years and then as Senior Analyst for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners for 17 years.

Job Titles:

• Program Manager, Business Community Engagement, Downtown Detroit Partnership ( DDP )

Julie is passionate about building and maintaining relationships with Downtown Detroit businesses and bringing them together to foster a sense of community. Making sure the small business community is connected to the great things happening Downtown is her primary focus. Julie has been with the Downtown Detroit Partnership since 2014 and is currently a business community engagement program manager for the Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone (BIZ). Before joining DDP, Julie served as tenant liaison/coordinator, managing leases and service contracts for Larson Realty Group. Spending time with her grandson and community outreach, in general, whether it's feeding the homeless, connecting with the elderly or finding helpful resources for anyone else in need are some of the things she loves to do in her spare time. Julie is passionate about building and maintaining relationships with Downtown Detroit businesses and bringing them together to foster a sense of community. Making sure the small business community is connected to the great things happening Downtown is her primary focus. Julie has been with the Downtown Detroit Partnership since 2014 and is currently a business community engagement program manager for the Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone (BIZ). Before joining DDP, Julie served as tenant liaison/coordinator, managing leases and service contracts for Larson Realty Group. Spending time with her grandson and community outreach, in general, whether it's feeding the homeless, connecting with the elderly or finding helpful resources for anyone else in need are some of the things she loves to do in her spare time.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Athletic Director of Development, Wayne State University

Lauren is a development professional with more than ten years of university advancement, alumni and corporate relations experience. Her specialty is providing strategic leadership and direction for a comprehensive development program. Lauren focuses on meaningful relationship-building to create revenue and a market brand name. Her education, professional and personal experiences have allowed her to learn and master the art of identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding relationships to create revenue and a market brand name. Lauren also has a passion for professional & career development, mentoring, continuing education and the enhancement of specialized skills, specifically providing education and opportunities to students to prepare them for life after graduation. Lauren is a development professional with more than ten years of university advancement, alumni and corporate relations experience. Her specialty is providing strategic leadership and direction for a comprehensive development program. Lauren focuses on meaningful relationship-building to create revenue and a market brand name. Her education, professional and personal experiences have allowed her to learn and master the art of identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding relationships to create revenue and a market brand name. Lauren also has a passion for professional & career development, mentoring, continuing education and the enhancement of specialized skills, specifically providing education and opportunities to students to prepare them for life after graduation.

Job Titles:

• Co - Founder
• President
• Certified Professional Coach Certified Career Coach

Earlier in my career, I was drawn to managing and influencing others. My interest in management became stronger as my scope of work responsibilities grew. During this same period, I was mentored by several wonderful senior leaders. As I advanced in my career and assumed formal leadership roles, I quickly recognized my opportunity and responsibility to positively move forward the organization's agenda through others. At this same time, I began taking note of what leadership really looked like; how it played out and was embodied by various leaders from all walks of life. This influenced me in several ways: my personal values and desire to become more self-aware; my posture towards others; and lastly, the affect that organization leaders had on employees. I set a goal to positively influence individuals so that they would want to bring their best selves to work. What I observed throughout my earlier years, shaped how I chose to lead my work teams and treat people who were apart of the organization. I knew that I had a responsibility to own my role and bring other junior employees along so that they were aware of the value that they brought to the team. All the while I was learning more and more about how to lead from my most authentic self. This was probably the most difficult for me as I was often ‘the only'; only female and/or only person of color on the leadership team. My lived experiences have served as a catalyst to champion and honor individual's differences as well as embody diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Putting people first is not merely a nice to do - it encapsulates in three words, why doing so requires intentional efforts to increase representation as it relates to all diversity dimensions, establishing and modeling inclusive practices that increase belonging, and seeking out ways to strengthen access and opportunities for individuals whose voices have historically been silenced or ignored. I believe that leaders have an opportunity for ownership. This simply means that leaders have a responsibility to look over their shoulder, reach back, and tangibly bring others along with them. It's about purposefulness and can result in dual benefits for the leader and the junior employee. Case in point; I have always had a great desire to and have helped young professionals, particularly emerging female leaders, find their path. I recognize that despite the strides that have been made to close the gender gap, there's still much work to be done. My experience has been that male professionals are mentored - or better yet - sponsored by an executive earlier in their careers than their female counterparts. This enables male professionals to be placed in the promotion pipeline at faster rates than female professionals. What drives me is to make this look different in the future. Preparing female professionals at the beginning stages of their careers is key. I see this as a catalyst for change. In large part, this is what drove me to start Purposeful Pursuits. I realize that the change I want to see starts with me and I intend to own it. I have spent the last 25 years in diverse organizations across various sectors as a business executive who has achieved success through leading and influencing others. I am a consultant, professional coach and a trusted advisor with expertise in human resources, diversity/equity/inclusion, and organization development. I acquired my bachelor's degree in management and a Masters in organization development, both from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. I have several certifications in human resources (PHR), talent management (SWP) and professional coaching (CPC) and career coaching (CCC) credentialed by the World Coach Institute. I am honored to be identified by Corp! Magazine as a Business Diversity Leader award honoree for 2021.

Job Titles:

• Manager, Enterprise Project Management Office, Little Caesars Enterprises / Ilitch Holdings

Raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Sadé Richardson has been making strides towards creating her own identity as a public health professional. Currently, she works at Altarum Institute a nonprofit that creates and implements solutions to advance health among vulnerable and publically insured populations, as an Analyst in their Center for Behavioral Health. She is passionate about empowering people, shaping organizational culture and traveling. Sadé believes that if you want change, you have to be willing to be uncomfortable.

Job Titles:

• Co - Founder
• Principal
• Certified Professional Coach

I am a dedicated Servant-Leader in my leadership roles in the Telecommunications industry, as well as for nonprofit community programs, leveraging my business and program leadership, mentoring, coaching and project management skills to successfully plan and lead programs that deliver transformative results, that add significant stakeholder value, and that create improvement and advancement opportunities for women.