My name is Tinesha Cherry. I am a fighter. I was born to a mother who was addicted to heroin. I was born with heroin in my system. I have never met my father. As a child, I suffered years of physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse.

Growing up in extreme poverty, my earliest childhood memory is one of living in an abandoned building, with no food and having to place old food cans on the window seal when it rained just to get water to drink. I have endured multiple foster care homes/families, where I continued to suffer unimaginable horrors, to include abuse and neglect and I am the product of the adoption system.

When the world told me that I would be lazy, lack focus, unmotivated, not dedicated and uneducated, I chose to fight back to break the chain of poverty, self-pity, doubt, hopelessness and helplessness. When the world set low expectations for me and even lower expectations of me, I chose to stand when it would have been easier to stay down on my knees. I chose Win despite being born to Lose.

Today, I am a wife, mother, author, poet, international motivational speaker, leadership trainer, women’s empowerment and success coach, entrepreneur and volunteer.

I have been involved in mentoring, leading, empowering and influencing audiences for more than 26 years. As an international speaker with a focus on personal resilience, I use coaching, training, workshops, presentations and mentoring, to deliver practical, useable and actionable content to equip audiences with the hope, inspiration, knowledge and skills needed to rise above adversity and achieve their best personal, professional and educational dreams.

I have both national and international experience delivering keynote speeches on personal resilience. As an international motivational speaker, poet and leadership trainer, I have had the opportunity to work with and speak to diverse audiences that range from senior leaders who work for multiple agencies within the Federal government to performing poetry in front of a crowd of more than 15,000 on the mall in Washington, DC.

I have a proven track record in professional speaking/training in dozens of states across the U.S. and in countries such as Canada, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Africa and Ireland.

As a trainer and coach, I have trained hundreds of leaders across the country to maximize their leadership skills by overcoming insecurities, building confidence, courage and character and taking the actions necessary to contribute to the realization of both their personal and professional dreams and aspirations.

My work has been featured in several local and national publications, and I am the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgements for my work in the community, to include:

• Philanthropist Award-Vigor International 2017
• Secretary’s Meritorious Service Silver Medal- Department of Homeland Security 2017
• Female Entrepreneur of the Year- Michigan Association of Female Entrepreneurs 2017
• Warriors Award (Perseverance) – National Association of Women Business Owners 2018
•  Spirit of Detroit Award (Philanthropy) – Detroit City Council 2018
• Dr. Tererai Trent Award (Philanthropy) – National Association of Women Business Owners 2019
• Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All Award – Women’s Economic Forum (WEF) 2020
• Outstanding Advocate for Women in Federal Law Enforcement- Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) 2023
• Civil Rights by Action Award – National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) 2024