Charli Cooksey says true collaboration will take the community further than we could ever go alone. Aided by this mindset, WEPOWER created a Community Wealth Building Playbook, which guides residents, investors, organizers, and officials to advance equitable economic policies. In navigating environmental business change locally, Cooksey hopes to see an influx of flexible capital for Black and Hispanic businesses, as well as prioritization of small, local businesses committed to St. Louis.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
What has been your or your company’s most significant success over the last 12 months? We worked with a group of design fellows to create a Community Wealth Building Playbook for St. Louis that can help guide residents, investors, organizers and officials to advance equitable economic policies. We’ve also been very busy advocating for $100 million in sustainable public funding for early childhood education in the St. Louis region, and we’re seeing a lot of progress.
What has you most excited about the future of your company or industry? I am excited about three things: 1.) Continuing to make progress to make childcare a civil right by winning public, sustainable funding to increase access for more children an families. We are supporting childcare centers will becoming hubs for civic change and activating them to contact thousands of voters to make sure childcare is an important topic during the November elections. 2.) Releasing the St. Louis Community Wealth Building Playbook that can activate our region to transform our economy, especially the way we support businesses, and the way land and capital are used and available to our most marginalized residents. 3.) Supporting our latest cohorts of business owners—construction companies and owners across other industries—to scale their businesses and access friendly capital.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why? True collaboration will take us all further than we can ever go alone.
What’s the toughest business challenge you’ve had to overcome (excluding the pandemic) and why? People have been afraid to join us in taking big risks that could lead to big rewards for St. Louis. It’s also been difficult recruiting and retaining a local team amidst and (post) the pandemic.
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MENTORS & PEERS
To whom or where do you go for sound business advice? Harvard Business Review, Inc.com, Stanford Social Innovation Review
Do you have a business mentor? If so, who and why? I’m honored to be able to learn from high-impact and St. Louis-proud business leaders like Maxine Clark, Tony Thompson, Dave Peacock, and Roo Yawitz.
What piece of advice has had the most significant impact on your career? I have three main pieces of advice I would give my younger self: First, I would tell myself it’s OK to lead unapologetically when you are clear about your vision and your standards. Second, power is our greatest currency. The more people are able to activate and exercise power, the more equitable our systems will be and benefit many versus a few. Finally, I would advise myself to lean into change because change is constant.
If you could have dinner with any two area business leaders, who would you choose and why? That’s difficult to answer. I want to see more business leaders be more boldly committed to systems change and racial justice—better leveraging and activating their power for measurable, transformational change. It was pretty eye-opening to see few to no business leaders marching with organizers and activists on the 10-year anniversary of Michael Brown Jr.’s death—such a pivotal person and moment that has impacted the history of our region and country.
Who is the most interesting under-the-radar/emerging business leader in St. Louis and why? Morgan Casey, the creator of Date Ideas & Things to Do, has grown her business exponentially, and has always been focused on collaborations and support efforts to achieve social change in our region. She even arranged for customers / event goers to be able to register voters at all of her events leading up to the November elections.
What is one thing you would change about the St. Louis metro area business environment and why? I would love to see a massive influx of flexible capital for Black and Latinx businesses, and I would make sure we prioritize small, local businesses committed to St. Louis.
BACKGROUND
Where were you born? I was born in North St. Louis City.
What was your childhood aspiration? I wanted to be a ballerina.
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? When I was a teenager, I worked at The Muny concessions. I loved the theater and still do, but the lesson I learned was that I wanted to actually be in the show, not supporting the show.
What educational degrees do you hold, and where were they earned? Bachelors: Prairie View A&M University, Bachelor of Social Science, Political Science. Masters: University of Missouri-Saint Louis, Master’s Degree, Secondary Education
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
If you were not in your current profession, what would you be doing and why? If not leading WEPOWER, I would be an author and screenwriter while traveling the world as much as possible.
What is your favorite St. Louis-area restaurant, and what do you typically order there? My favorite place to socialize is Brennan’s and Idol Wolf, and my favorite restaurant is Indo. It’s too hard to choose a favorite dish at Indo when everything is so good.
What is one item you recently crossed off your bucket list? Going to Paris had been on my bucket list forever, and when I finally went in 2023, it felt like going home. There were lots of reminders of St. Louis all around the city.
What is one book you think everyone should read (or podcast everyone should listen to) and why? The Broken Heart of America by Walter Johnson is a must-read for all Americans, but St. Louisans will find it especially poignant.
What’s your hobby/passion? In my spare time, I enjoy adventures to new places that include an ocean and a beach where I can write and meditate.
What is your most prized possession? My ability to dream big, paired with a commitment to execute strategically.
What would people be surprised to learn about you—a fun fact? I was on a bowling and tennis scholarship in college.
What is your go-to karaoke song? I don’t actually like karaoke, but I do enjoy good music. I love the song “Intimidated” by Kaytranada and H.E.R.
