Sherry Sims

In 2008, driven by the need for a black female mentor, Sherry fearlessly launched the Black Career Women’s Network as a forum on LinkedIn. Her goal was to foster a community where black women could connect, seek career advice, and network despite the initial lack of interest. Initially, the forum struggled to attract members, so Sherry ignored the group. Several years later, she decided to change careers after working a decade in the human resources industry, she desired to utilize her experience differently and became a career coach.

She discovered a passion for helping people strive for career success during this time. When black women began to seek her out for career advice, she soon discovered that other professional black women like herself were experiencing similar or various challenges in the workplace. This inspired her to take action. She also revisited the LinkedIn group which had began to gain traction since becoming a career coach.

With her newfound passion, Sherry decided to focus on helping black women. She expanded the Black Career Women’s Network offline into a national organization. This expansion has significantly increased the network’s reach and impact, offering professional development programs, coaching, mentoring, resources, and a community to provide exclusive support.

Since its inception in 2012, the Black Career Women’s Network has supported and empowered Black women worldwide. It has not just been a network, but a significant force that has created an environment that encourages women to take control of their professional lives, and excel in their chosen fields. The network’s impact extends globally, and its collective support has empowered countless women.

With over 1,600+ members globally, corporate partners, career coaches, and more. Sherry prefers to keep the exclusive community intentionally small yet powerful for actual results and impact. BCWN remains committed to breaking down barriers and amplifying opportunities, ensuring that Black women have the tools and resources they need to excel in the workplace and beyond.

Sherry’s expertise and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and has been featured as a Careers Expert on Cincinnati’s FOX19 affiliate. Her advice, recognized for its value, has been featured in esteemed national print and digital publications such as Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise, US News, The New York Times, and CNBC, further solidifying her as a respected figure in the industry. Her recognition and awards are a testament to her success and a source of inspiration for others.

In addition to national recognition, Sherry has been recognized in local publications where she resides in Cincinnati, Ohio in publications, such as the Cincinnati Business Courier, Cincy Chic, Cincinnati Herald, WLWT 5, and Who’s Who Cincinnati.  Sherry was listed as one of the Top 20 Career Coaches to follow in 2020. In 2023 she was honored by the African American Chamber of Commerce Greater Cincinnati with the Black Business Hall of Fame Award and is currently a LinkedIn Top Voice for Career Development.