Karen Pandy-Cherry

Karen Pandy-Cherry is the Vice President of Programs at New Leaders Council. She is responsible for the strategy and implementation of all NLC programming, from the Institute to alumni support and NLC convention.

Karen has been deeply involved with New Leaders Council since her fellowship with NLC Broward in 2016. As a national LEAD trainer, she has brought her passion for leadership to over 10 chapters across the country. She has also served on the Broward chapter’s board, co-founded the NLC Black Caucus, been a Spark! Talk presenter and mentor at NLC Convention, and authored policy papers on behalf of the organization.

Using the skills and network she gained from her NLC fellowship, Karen took Chef Kulture, an organization that supports and promotes leaders in the food industry so they can have impact on the communities they serve, from an idea to a movement. Chef Kulture addresses issues in Black and Brown communities such as food justice and access, community economic sustainability, and small business development, and currently has 8 chapters across Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, and Georgia.

Karen has dedicated her career to the fight for equity. Previously, Karen has been a community organizer and program manager in the non-profit sector and provided entrepreneurial mentorship to her community. Karen holds a Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Group Communications from Trinity International University. She is the former Board Chair of the LA Lee YMCA and was a founding member of Communities of Promise Health & Wellness Coalition, both located in Florida.

Karen is wife to Chef Chad Cherry and the mother of three children: Kytana, Kyrsten and Zyon.