The Multi-Gen Black Family Who Built America: Dr. Cheryl McKissack Daniel

Dr. Cheryl McKissack Daniel, Chair of the Board, McKissack & McKissack, joins Eric Becker to share how she leads one of America's oldest family-owned businesses, spanning over 230 years and five generations. From enslaved ancestors who were master builders to leading a firm responsible for over $50 billion in construction projects, Cheryl shares lessons on leadership, resilience, and building a lasting business legacy.   Cheryl says that for family-owned companies, business is personal, and that pressure drives leaders to take bold risks, stay agile, and never settle for mediocrity. She also emphasizes the power of owning mistakes, a mindset that has shaped the firm's culture, performance, and long-term success.   Key Takeaways: How to sustain a multi-generational family business Why 100-year companies take the biggest risks How high-performing leaders avoid mediocrity and drive excellence Why resilience, adaptability, and strategy fuel long-term business success The importance of accountability: why great leaders own their mistakes Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-multi-gen-black-family-who-built-america-dr/id1896628025?i=1000769554152  Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cIdRegONwaf8wvBS55ouf  YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Y3olhbEaU&list=PLhZTXRm5h2cFDeIgIgMxd5xQWCocco1WT&index=2  Cheryl McKissack Daniel LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-mckissack-daniel-b580a17/  McKissack & McKissack https://mckissack.com/  Eric Becker LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebecker1/  Eric Becker https://cressetcapital.com/about/team/eric-becker/  The Long Game book https://longgamebook.com/  Cresset website https://cressetcapital.com/podcasts/entrepreneurs/    Historic photographs courtesy of Metro Nashville Archives