Precious Stargell Cushman serves as Chief Impact Officer at United Way of Greater Kansas City, a position she’s held since March 2023.
United Way is proud to have women serving in four of our five C-Suite executive level positions.
Each shared responses to the same four questions during this Women’s History Month.
United Way: Share a person or place that inspires you and why
Precious: My mom. She epitomized how to handle adversity as a young woman and how that led to her personal growth. My mother was only a teenager and unwed when she had me. We had family, friends and ultimately a bonus-dad that believed in her and me. The collective village ensured mom was able to work as well as obtain her education to become a registered nurse with an impeccable 45-year career. Mom’s career spanned from patient care to hospital administration, clinical research, and cardio-vascular technical sales and master level studies.
My mom’s tenacity was matched by my grandmother’s sense of purpose, a vocal civil rights advocate. It was through these examples, I learned grit, perseverance, operating out of comfort and being open to possibilities. It was that mindset which spilled over to me in both deliberate and unlikely ways.
United Way: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Precious: “Progress is not always linear.” This means that the best opportunity may be a lateral role or a role that was not in your line of sight to gain the best experience, perspective or insight for which you ultimately aspire. At the end of the day, as leaders, we are the sum of our collective experiences and we bring our entire selves into the roles we have. As such, it behooves us to embrace and capture the breadth and depth of experiences to be the most well-rounded, exposed and perspective-enriched person we can.
United Way: What’s the most meaningful part of your role at United Way?
Precious: Central to my work is the collaboration throughout our community and beyond. From the levels of engagement with nonprofits, corporate and civic partners and with members of our community as both concerned citizens and those underscoring the needs that exist in our community, my work is both inspiring and humbling.
What I appreciate is the ability to leverage an uncommon career from years in financial services, fundraising and development, and non-profit executive leadership towards fulfilling the mission of the United Way of Greater Kansas City. Uniquely, this opportunity allows my professional and personal passions to be aligned – being in and of service while endeavoring to promote and become a model of excellence for addressing the most pressing needs of our community.
United Way: How would you encourage other women aspiring to serve in leadership roles?
Precious: I wish to emulate what I have received. I had incredible mentors, collaborators, truth-tellers, and partners throughout my career. They helped me appreciate how one shows up and engages with your peers is how you get to lead. More often than not, it is your peers who are the ones that influence your growth and development. They can either celebrate your contributions and create that ripple effect for you or not. I suggest inspiring followership and pay attention to your optics. For example, are you reliable, prepared for meetings, inquisitive, and deliver on your word? Also, demonstrating initiative and risk taking are wonderful traits for leadership. Most importantly, remember to give yourself grace as development is a journey. In fact, I, and others, would be the first to tell you that I remain a work in progress and some days, I love the journey more than others.
