Meet Sherri J. White, a remarkable woman who overcame immense challenges as a young pre-teen mother to achieve extraordinary success as a serial entrepreneur. At just 14 years old, Sherri confronted the daunting realities of teenage pregnancy and poverty. Undeterred by these obstacles, she gave birth at 15 and embarked on a journey that defied all odds.
Through sheer determination, Sherri has emerged as a beacon of success, establishing a thriving business empire spanning multiple industries. Currently, she owns and manages two Success Souvenirs Daycare centers in Georgia, offering crucial services to families while bolstering her financial prosperity.
But Sherri’s accomplishments extend further. She is also mentoring her 18-year-old daughter, Janaya Burke, in entrepreneurship. Together, they manage the Offices at Dogwood Park, a joint venture where they operate the Success Suite. This facility provides affordable conference rooms and business suites, embodying their entrepreneurial spirit. Janaya herself runs Belle Lux Day Spa within the building, showcasing the family’s commitment to business innovation.
Sherri’s influence transcends her business ventures. As a three-time author, she has penned the memoir “Success Souvenirs,” a children’s book titled “Mommy, I Thought You Said Black is Beautiful,” and a gripping two-part suspense novel, “Certified Thriller.” She also serves as a mentor and advocate for women’s empowerment, supporting others in achieving their dreams through her books, mentorship programs, and community initiatives.
From organizing childcare retreats to creating real estate opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs, Sherri’s dedication to uplifting others is boundless. She is the visionary behind the Galentine’s Day Gala, a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating exceptional women in business nationwide. Dubbed the “Grammy’s for Women in Business,” this gala underscores Sherri’s commitment to recognizing and empowering women leaders and innovators.
Sherri J. White’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of entrepreneurship. Her story inspires countless individuals to defy expectations and pursue their own paths to success. Take a look at our recent interview with her for our July Digital Cover Story!
Generational wealth is very important. Share with us what made you strongly educate yourself on the importance of this and why you started helping others.
Growing up I never had a real example of what generational wealth looked like. After seeing so many people around me make tons of money, but still not educate those around them on how to keep the legacy going, it made me realize, that I never wanted to work as hard as I work, and not show anyone that I leave behind how to keep things moving. Ultimately when we obtain success, I feel it is our duty to teach those who look up to us and who are ultimately our responsibility how to survive in our absence. Having a head start allows you to finish faster if you know what to do with it. Having a head start and not having a clue on what pace to run to get where you’re going is for sure a recipe for disaster. Not only is this important for my family dynamic, but for all family dynamics, especially in the African American community where generational wealth is hardly ever discussed or spoken about.
We love that you took a situation as a young teen mother and proved against the statistics that you could still be successful. What would you say motivated you at that time in your life to fight the odds?
My daughter was my sole motivation. I always felt it wouldn’t be fair to her to not at least try to fight the struggles of teen parenthood. I always wanted her to experience the things I experienced finding my way around my teenage years while being a mother. I always wanted to be in a position both mentally and financially to provide for her if she ever needed me. I know the only way to achieve that goal was to fight through my present situation.
I love that you opened daycares. It’s so many parents in need of these services. In what ways would you say you accommodate those who come from low-income families in need of help with childcare?
I accommodate those parents I serve by providing them with something most daycares won’t in our communities, compassion. Treating them with respect and integrity regardless of their income levels or household situations, and also providing them with the same opportunities that the prestigious suburbs schools receive. I go above and beyond to create relationships with the community to ensure that I develop resources for the families outside of the school to be able to utilize in their time of need, and to also make sure that I keep the prices affordable while not reducing the quality. Being a steady pillar in the communities I serve is extremely important to me because in the long term it provides a sense of safety and also reliability to those who come through my doors.
There are so many seeking to be business owners. What has this lifestyle taught you the most?
That your success doesn’t just belong to you, it belongs to everyone. What I mean by that is you’re only as good as your next blessing, and our blessings come from helping others and paying it forward. I’ve learned along the way that it’s not the success itself that makes you happy or accomplished, but more so what you do with the success and how you use it to benefit others that really makes the most impact.
You’re now a multimillionaire! That’s a dream for many. In what ways do you prepare yourself and family to maintain what you have built so that it lasts for generations?
First and foremost, I give all glory to God for the opportunity and thank him every day for choosing me to live out this purposeful life. Ensuring that each of my family members is set up is big for me. Giving them an opportunity and resources that not only they can understand and maintain but also appreciate is what will allow them to grow their own branch off of the tree that I created. I teach what I know in ways that they can relate to so that they can water their own seeds as I believe you appreciate more what you actually work hard for and what actually belongs to you. In giving them their own resources to grow their own dreams as opposed to making them grow my dreams is a way to ensure that for generations to come the family legacy has multiple avenues to explore. It is my hope that each family member will utilize that same method of paying it forward to grow and groom those who also depend on them.
Share with us about the details of your book, “Mommy, I Thought You Said Black is Beautiful.”
“Mommy, I Thought You Said Black Was Beautiful is a powerful tool to help start the racism conversation in your home, school, and/or organization. It is a way to teach our children about the negative experiences they may have in life prior to them happening, so that they are prepared for them, and do not allow them to shape their lives indefinitely. in hopes that we can change the narrative and impact generations to come.
Your journey is yet another reminder for many to keep going despite what things look like around you. What do you want to say to the young mothers today who may be walking the same path you once were on?
Keep going, it’s never too late to identify the mistakes you made and attempt to correct them. Having a child early does not have to be the end, it can be the beginning if you’re up for the challenge. Having my daughter early ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me, and it can be the best thing that ever happened to you too once you realize being a young mother doesn’t mean your life is over.
What upcoming events can we expect to see you at in the next few months?
Stay tuned, I plan on being extremely visible for the foreseeable future.
We hope that you enjoyed this exclusive with Sherri J. White! Be sure to #subscribe to FEMI Magazine!
Photography Credit: Jlavi Photography, Jasmine Hutcherson
