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Cornish reads to young children as a part of their literacy initiative at the TD Jake Foundation. Photo courtesy TD Jakes Foundation<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tOverview:<\/p>\n
Kelley Cornish, president and CEO of the TD Jakes Foundation, was honored at the 4th Annual Women of Influence Awards for her transformative leadership and commitment to community empowerment. Cornish’s passion for economic equity is deeply personal, having faced financial challenges as a single mother. She emphasizes education as the key to closing wealth gaps and advocates for Black women navigating financial systems that often lack accessibility and transparency. Cornish’s leadership skills have been honed over the years through trial and error, and she encourages women to remain grounded in integrity and surround themselves with honest, supportive communities.<\/p>\n
As women across the nation were celebrated during International Women\u2019s Month,\u00a0Kelley Cornish\u00a0stood among those honored for her transformative leadership and unwavering commitment to community empowerment.<\/p>\n
Cornish, president and CEO of the\u00a0TD Jakes Foundation, was recognized Friday, March 20, at the 4th Annual Women of Influence Awards presented by\u00a0Cheryl Polote Williamson. The event brought together changemakers whose work continues to shape pathways for women, particularly Black women, across industries.<\/p>\n
For Cornish, the recognition reflects a lifelong journey rooted in service, resilience and faith.<\/p>\n
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Rooted in Legacy and Community<\/p>\n
Cornish credits her upbringing for shaping both her personal and professional mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was raised by such phenomenal Black women and men, but more so the women, they really leaned into my development,\u201d she said. \u201cJust watching that, they never asked anybody for anything. The community supported each other. The church supported people, and that\u2019s all I knew.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raised between northern cities and summers in the South, Cornish said those early experiences instilled both discipline and purpose. Her mother, a first-grade teacher for more than four decades, worked multiple jobs while serving others in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat really shaped my journey,\u201d Cornish said. \u201cWhen it was time to enter the workplace, I started leaning into how do I help underserved people get into the mainstream.\u201d<\/p>\n
That calling would later define her career, long before diversity and inclusion became corporate priorities.<\/p>\n
Financial Empowerment Through Lived Experience<\/p>\n
Now leading a national foundation focused on workforce readiness, financial inclusion and community development, Cornish\u2019s passion for economic equity is deeply personal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI come from very humble beginnings,\u201d she said. \u201cI watched a woman who made $20,000 a year build a house, always have a nice car, always put her money to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cornish reads to young children as a part of their literacy initiative at the TD Jake Foundation. Photo courtesy TD Jakes Foundation<\/p>\n
Her own financial challenges as a single mother further shaped her perspective. Facing unemployment, foreclosure threats and financial uncertainty, Cornish said she had to rebuild from the ground up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was that person that people are helping now,\u201d she said. \u201cAt times when they think, I can\u2019t do this, it\u2019s not going to matter. I\u2019ve lived it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That experience fuels her advocacy today, particularly for Black women navigating financial systems that often lack accessibility and transparency.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money doesn\u2019t make you wealthy,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is what you do with the money that makes you wealthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cornish emphasizes education as the key to closing wealth gaps, noting that many professionals, regardless of income, lack foundational financial knowledge.<\/p>\n
Finding Voice in Leadership Spaces<\/p>\n
As a Black woman leading in spaces historically dominated by men, Cornish describes leadership as a skill developed over time through both strategy and self-awareness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a muscle that has to be developed,\u201d she said. \u201cMy leadership skills have been honed over the years through trial and error and literally watching men work.\u201d<\/p>\n
She intentionally sought male executive coaches while maintaining women mentors, a strategy she said helped her navigate complex professional environments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey would never coach me as a woman. They would coach me as a leader,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you can understand how they think, you can navigate any room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cornish also acknowledged the challenges of imposter syndrome and the constant adaptation required across different professional and social spaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you take the posture of learning, always be in a learning mode. That makes for the best leader,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Resilience Through Adversity<\/p>\n
A defining moment in Cornish\u2019s career came when she was pushed out of a leadership role, leading to two years of unemployment and more than 200 job rejections.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was such a humbling time,\u201d she said. \u201cI had to fight off the imposter syndrome and everything that said you\u2019re not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
The experience, though painful, strengthened her resolve and clarity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve hit rock bottom, and it will be nothing but up from here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Cornish now shares that lesson widely, encouraging women to remain grounded in integrity and surround themselves with honest, supportive communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever compromise your integrity,\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to keep people around you that believe in you and will tell you the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Mission That Meets Real Needs<\/p>\n
Under Cornish\u2019s leadership, the foundation continues to create direct impact through initiatives such as hiring mixers and youth programs.<\/p>\n
She recalled a woman at a Dallas hiring event who expressed gratitude through tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said, \u2018This is the most hope I\u2019ve had in months,\u2019\u201d Cornish said. \u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for this, I don\u2019t know what I would have done.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Cornish prides herself on the lives changed through the work of the TD Jakes Foundation. Photo courtesy TD Jakes Foundation<\/p>\n
Moments like those affirm the urgency of the work. In another instance, a young girl attended a program not for enrichment, but for food to take home to her siblings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were expecting to address one need, but we needed to address a basic need,\u201d Cornish said. \u201cFeed those babies because we don\u2019t know if they\u2019re eating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Honoring Women, Building Legacy<\/p>\n
Cornish\u2019s recognition at the Women of Influence Awards underscores the broader significance of International Women\u2019s Month, highlighting stories of perseverance, leadership and community impact.<\/p>\n