A Leader is a Professional Student of Their Team | Cherisa Jerez, DBA on Leadership and Learning

• Cherisa Jerez is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Ashire Technologies, a Florida-based consulting firm specializing in cybersecurity for government systems.
• Cherisa is a proud Latina who understands the challenges of the Latino community regarding daring to dream and the perceived lack of opportunities available for them.
• Her passion for learning is evident in her philosophy of studying her team and always listening and learning from their insights.
• She pursued a doctorate in business administration with a focus on international business from Liberty University because she was inspired by her grandmother who began an undergraduate degree when she was 52 years old.
• Writing and literature are her true passions, and she is a big fan of organizational non-fiction and historical fiction genres.

1. Can you please tell us about yourself?

I am a proud Latina born in Miami, Florida. My father immigrated to the US from Cuba in his early 20s. My mother is half Irish and half Puerto Rican from the Bronx, New York. I’m very close to the Latino culture as I grew up in a Spanish-speaking household.

I am very familiar with the challenges that young Latinos have in terms of daring to dream and seizing the opportunities that are ahead of them. Being part of the #PeopleWeAdmire series is important to me because I am able to share some of the strategies and lessons that I’ve learned in my career and hopefully, inspire not just the Latino community but also cultures worldwide to dare to dream and pursue their natural talents and passions.

2. You have had leadership in diverse fields and industries. What values or habits have been constant throughout your career despite the differences in the industries that you have worked in?

I have worked in the US Army as an officer, the manufacturing and supply chain environment as an operations leader, I’ve broadened my experiences by writing and publishing fiction, and now, my husband and I have co-founded a tech company, specializing in cybersecurity compliance strategies. Despite this diverse background, I believe that there are fundamental core competencies and strategies that translate across all different industries.

One is passion for learning. When I was commissioned as a signal officer in the Army, I had little IT experience and no background in strategic, military-based communications. I had to learn quickly. Learning is not just about the self-discipline of attending  classes or reading the  assigned books. Learning is also about a willingness to listen and observe the subject matter experts around you.

Hence, I am a professional student of my team. This is also one of the core competencies that helped me succeed throughout my career. Listening, observing, and learning from the people around me has helped me leverage their experience and insights over the past 15 years. 

Another essential competency is the ability to lead despite fear or self-doubt. When you are the leader, people are counting on you—they need your advice, guidance, and support. There will be points in everyone’s career where they will struggle with imposter syndrome. But it’s important to push through that fear. You must think, “I’m going to offer what I have and stand on the decisions I make based on my experiences and learning.” By making yourself available, you become present. Your authenticity and courage build trust within the organization and people will naturally gravitate to you and support your vision.

4. Do you have any role models who have inspired you most in your life and how have they helped shape your character today?

Both my husband and my mother have been incredibly inspirational.

My mother has spent the last 15 years of her life pursuing her passion, leading a significant large-scale non-profit effort across Latin America,  and becoming a well-known and powerful speaker throughout Latin America as a part of her mission. She has walked the talk and shown me the possibilities when you follow your truest passions. 

My husband, on the other hand, has taught me commitment to excellence. Together, we have built a culture of integrity within our business and ensured that our clients receive high-quality services. Not just as individuals but as an organization, we put integrity at the forefront.

5. How do you think your doctoral degree in international business from Liberty University has impacted your career in terms of opportunities and perspectives?

I dreamed of earning a doctoral degree after witnessing my grandmother’s journey. She began her college education at 52, enrolling as a freshman at Colorado Christian University. While studying for her undergraduate degree, she worked at McDonald’s. I vividly remember walking into McDonald’s to get lunch from her that day and seeing her mopping the floor. That same night, we went to the library where she studied until 11 o’clock while I read. I was only fourteen years old then, but this experience shaped my understanding of the importance of education within our family.

Fast forward ten years, and my grandmother earned her doctorate degree from Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma, in her early 60s. I vowed to become the next doctorate holder in the family.

I pursued a doctorate in business administration with a focus in international business because of my professional experiences in Puerto Rico and my partnerships with plants and manufacturing distribution facilities around the world, including Ireland, Prague, Czech Republic, and China.

Lastly, I chose this path because I envision myself giving back through teaching. I’ve accumulated extensive experience, knowledge, and insights over the years, and I want to share them with the next generation.  I saw myself in a classroom, surrounded by college students, pouring my knowledge into them. I knew that obtaining a doctorate would help make that vision a reality.

6. How do you prevent yourself from burning out? Do you have any advice about maintaining a functional balance?

This is an excellent question because a lot of people have asked me, “How do you do it all? How do you manage all of these things?” 

There was a time when I was in the Army Reserves, pursuing my doctorate, working a full-time job, and raising two children while my husband was frequently deployed. Those years were challenging, but I learned what works.

First is self-care. You need to incorporate something into your day that fills your soul. Whether it’s going for a walk, reading a book or watching a show you enjoy, you deserve at least 30 minutes of “just you” time. It doesn’t matter if it’s something simple like reality TV. If it brings you joy, if it helps you disconnect,  just do it.

The other thing is organization. Managing my calendar allows for focus. To handle multiple objectives and the responsibilities, focus on one task at a time and eliminate multitasking. If I am in a meeting, I turn everything off to give my full attention. You get a hundred percent of me. Once that’s over, I shift to the next task with the same focus. I’m not the most organized person in the world, but I ensure to schedule breaks and prioritize tasks. 

Lastly, I have learned and trusted myself to say, “Hold on, don’t lift your hand yet.” When colleagues or clients ask for something, I consider if it aligns with my objectives. If it doesn’t, I’m willing to be brave enough to say, “I’m sorry, I don’t think I’m the right person for this.” Saying no allows me to give the necessary focus and effort to the task that matters most.

7. You mentioned that you’re also into writing and publishing. Would you like to give us some book recommendations?

Writing and literature are my truest passions. For nonfiction, I recommend Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” and General Stanley McChrystal’s “Team of Teams,” both are excellent books on business organization leadership.

For fiction, I love “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon, a brilliant historical fiction series about the Scottish war. 

8. Is there a quote or a mantra that resonates with who you are as a person?

The quote that has stuck with me for almost 30 years is, “People say that you’re going the wrong way when it’s simply a way of your own.” This resonated with me because finding my path to success means I need to create my own journey. It wasn’t traditional, but it has been very rewarding and fulfilling. I have honored all the different aspects of myself in this journey.

Cherisa Jerez is a proud Latina with a diverse career background from the military, to manufacturing operations, to technology. Inspired by personally influential figures like her grandmother, her mother, and her husband. She emphasizes the importance of education in achieving opportunities. Her passion for learning, commitment to excellence, and advocacy for a culture of integrity in business have attributed to her success  in her leadership roles. She aims to give back to her community as a mentor and an educator in the future.