Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Hurley.
Cheryl, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey into leadership began long before I ever held a formal title. It started with a deep desire to encourage others and help people recognize their value and walk confidently in their purpose. Whether in ministry, community work, or professional settings, I found myself naturally guiding, supporting, and empowering others. At the time, I didn’t see it as leadership but saw it as service. But over time, I came to understand that leadership is less about position and more about presence and impact.
Like many leaders, my path was shaped by both opportunities and personal challenges that required resilience, reflection, and growth. There were seasons where I was pouring into others while also navigating my own journey of healing, identity, and purpose. Those experiences taught me that leadership cannot be separated from personal wellness and alignment. I realized that before we can effectively lead others, we must first understand our own value and lead from a place of authenticity.
That realization became the foundation for my work as a leadership and wellness coach and the founder of Empowered to Inspire YOU, LLC. Through coaching, speaking, and writing, I’ve had the privilege of helping individuals grow in confidence, clarity, and purpose. At the heart of everything I do is a simple but powerful message: YOU Matter. When people truly understand their worth, it transforms how they see themselves and how they lead others.
This journey has also led me to develop Leadership UnWrapped, a soon-to-be-released book and leadership framework that reflects the lessons I’ve learned over the years. Leadership UnWrapped explores how leadership is not something we perform, but something we grow into as we become more aligned, whole, and intentional. It represents the process of unwrapping expectations, embracing authenticity, and leading from a place of purpose and wellness.
Today, my work continues to center on helping others recognize their value, unwrap their leadership, and step fully into who they were created to be. What began as a personal journey of growth has evolved into a mission to help others discover that their voice matters, their presence matters, and ultimately, they matter.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road, and in many ways, the challenges became some of my greatest teachers. One of the biggest struggles was learning to lead from alignment rather than obligation. I was often pouring into others while still learning to honor my own growth, voice, and wellness. That required me to pause, reflect, and begin unwrapping expectations I had carried for years.
There were also seasons of uncertainty where I questioned whether I was truly walking in purpose or simply responding to responsibility. Growth required me to trust myself and move forward even when the path was not fully clear.
Through that process, I realized that leadership is not about perfection but about authenticity. I learned that I could not effectively empower others without first recognizing my own value and leading from a place of wholeness.
Those experiences became the foundation for Leadership UnWrapped and reinforced the message that now guides everything I do: when we truly understand that we matter, we begin to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and compassion.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a leadership and wellness coach, author, and founder of Empowered to Inspire YOU, LLC. At the core of my work is helping people recognize their value and lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose. I’ve found that when people truly understand that they matter, it changes how they see themselves and how they show up in every area of their lives.
My upcoming book and framework, Leadership UnWrapped, grew out of my own journey of learning that leadership is not about performance, but about alignment and authenticity. It’s about unwrapping expectations and becoming whole so we can lead others from a place of wellness and intention.
What I’m most proud of is seeing people rediscover their voice and step into leadership in a way that feels true to who they are. What sets me apart is that my work comes from lived experience. I don’t just teach leadership; I help people unwrap it for themselves. And at the heart of everything I do is the message that continues to guide my life and my work: YOU Matter.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve learned that risk is often less about certainty and more about trust that includes trusting yourself and the purpose you feel called to walk in. One of the greatest risks I’ve taken has been embracing my voice more fully through my coaching, writing, and the development of Leadership UnWrapped. Sharing something so personal requires vulnerability, but it also creates space to help others grow.
I’ve come to see risk as part of the unwrapping process. It’s stepping forward even when everything isn’t fully clear, but knowing that growth is waiting on the other side. That journey has taught me that when we recognize our value and trust that we matter, we gain the courage to move forward with confidence and purpose.
Pricing:
- Leadership and Wellness Coaching available for individuals and organizations
- Speaking engagements and leadership workshops available upon request
- Leadership UnWrapped book and framework launching soon
- For inquiries and more information:: http://www.empoweredtoinspireyou.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.empoweredtoinspireyou.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Empowered2InspireYOU/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rev-cheryl-a-s-hurley-34162310/
