Cheryl McKissack Daniel Joined the Bookum Podcast for an Insightful Conversation on Legacy & Leadership
Cheryl McKissack Daniel was recently featured on the Bookum Podcast, where she sat down for an engaging conversation about her memoir, The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers, and the extraordinary legacy behind it.
In the interview, Cheryl discussed the origins of her family story — beginning with Moses McKissack, who was brought to America enslaved in 1790 and who unknowingly set the course for one of the most enduring family legacies in American history. She shared how his craftsmanship, determination, and faith have carried forward for more than 200 years through five generations of builders, leaders, and visionaries.
The conversation explored not only the history of McKissack & McKissack, the nation’s oldest minority- and woman-owned design and construction firm, but also Cheryl’s personal journey as its current President and CEO. Topics included:
• navigating leadership as a Black woman in male-dominated spaces
• preserving family history through storytelling
• redefining generational wealth
• embracing purpose-driven leadership
• inspiring future generations to pursue excellence without limits
Cheryl also reflected on the emotional process of writing the book alongside co-author Nick Chiles, and the responsibility she feels to ensure that the sacrifices of her ancestors are never forgotten.
The Bookum episode offered listeners a deep, intimate look at what it means to build a legacy that endures beyond one lifetime — a central theme of her memoir and of her life’s work.
