An insight into an influential entertainer as a nonprofit leader:
Profile of Sheryl Underwood
by
Naidra L Walls
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Rho Theta Zeta Chapter
It is a rare occurrence for entertainers to be viewed as nonprofit leaders – society believes that their involvement with a cause is a publicity stunt or somehow falsely motivated. Readers can choose to believe that, or believe that these entertainers are people first, and actors, musicians, or comediennes second. This essay will outline the nonprofit career of one dynamic, multi-faceted woman: Sheryl Underwood, President of the international sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She has made significant humanitarian contributions on a global scale.
Brief history of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is identified by their motto of being a “community conscious, action-oriented organization.” (“http://www.bradley.edu”, 2011). It holds the status as a nongovernmental organization in the United States. “A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit, voluntary citizens’ group, which is organized on a local, national or international level to address issues in support of the public good.” (http://www.zphib1920.org, 2009)
Zeta Phi Beta was founded on January 16, 1920 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. for the purpose of promoting Black women to invest in an education and to uplift the community in a time where education of Blacks was highly discouraged. The organization has implemented programs like the Zetas Helping Other People Excel (Z-HOPE) initiative and the Stork’s Nest prenatal and infant care program. It has a long history of firsts including being the first organization to be constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Zeta is also the first of the other three Historically Black Greek-Lettered Organizations (BGLO) to charter chapters in Africa, St. Croix, Germany, and the Bahamas. (Ross, 2000) Zeta Phi Beta is the first BGLO to form national auxiliary groups for youth and adults. Currently, the organization sponsors the Amicae, an auxiliary for women who do not have a college degree but who live by the ideals of Zeta; Archonettes, young women ages 14 to 18; Amicettes, young women ages nine to 13, Pearlettes, girls from age five to nine; and the Zeta Male Network, an auxiliary dedicated to the men in the lives of Zeta women (including brothers, husbands, sons, etc.). These auxiliary groups stand by Zeta principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love, and Finer Womanhood. They independently host community events, fundraisers, and social functions to support the local and national efforts of Zeta Phi Beta.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is composed of over 125,000 members worldwide. To lead this massive organization is no easy feat. Sheryl Underwood has utilized her celebrity, academic achievement, and love for Zeta to become a pillar in the Black Greek community.
Sheryl Underwood
Sheryl Underwood, the 23rd International Grand Basileus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Inc. leads a dual life as a comedienne and a public servant. As a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, she served in the Air Force, and was deployed to Desert Storm. She is also an active Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), an active member of the National Council for Negro Women (NCNW), and founded the African American Female Comedienne Association. Sheryl Underwood received her Associates degree in Liberal Arts from Fresno City College, a Paralegal Certificate from the University of California in Los Angeles, a Bachelor degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago, and a Master’s degree from Governors State University.
Underwood is the “first entertainer to head the highest office of a historical African-American Pan-Hellenic Council organization when she was elected the 23rd international president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.” (Christian, 2008) She has held several leadership positions within the Sorority including the State Corresponding Secretary for the state of California, the Pacific Regional Secretary (also in California), National Director of Honorary Members, National Graduate Member at Large, and Chair of the National Executive Board. Furthermore, Underwood has held numerous positions at the local level of the Sorority through the Zeta Tau Zeta chapter in Chicago, IL and the Alpha Psi Zeta chapter in Los Angeles, CA. (Christian, 2008) She proves her commitment to the Sorority by successfully holding numerous leadership positions including “serving as President, First Vice-President, Executive Board Chair, Historian, Graduate Advisor and Charter Member of Omicron Rho Zeta. She is currently a Golden Life Member of the sorority and a member of Alpha Psi Zeta Chapter in Los Angeles, CA.” (http://miamiimprov.com, 2010)
Aside from her tireless community service projects and participation in initiatives designed to uplift the Black community, Underwood is widely known for her controversial opinions, explicit comedy shows, and being a “A Sexually Progressive, God-Fearing Black Republican”. (http://www.blackamericaweb.com, 2008) On this topic, she notes:
I believe in Jesus and say the Pledge of Allegiance….I’ve done some things that are not Biblically correct, but I’m going to be patient and wait on the Lord to send me another husband. I’ve been a widow for 20 years! If someone does not believe what I believe, I’m going to respect their beliefs. As a Republican woman I never let anyone push me some place where I don’t want to go. I love everyone as long as you are not messing with my money.
This reputation posed a significant challenge to Underwood as she ran for presidency of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in 2008. Her pizzazz and spunk made members of the Sorority hesitant to vote her into such a prestigious position.
Specific impact on Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Society
Since election in 2008, Sheryl Underwood has employed numerous leadership techniques to increase the cohesiveness of the Sorority. To positively impact the community of each chapter, membership needed to increase. The organization is driven primarily from membership dues. Underwood implemented a Zeta Reclamation period to reach members of the organization who have been inactive to invite them to re-activate with a local chapter. She also authors the Z-Blast electronic newsletter. This publication provides moral support to members of the organization, and encourages chapters to participate in national efforts outside of the standard community activities that local chapters host. Given the discreet nature of BGLOs, some of the other specific impacts that Underwood has made on the Sorority are the equivalent of trade secrets; however, under her leadership, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. has been successful in providing support for Haiti, (http://youtu.be/iRlEsxLO-nQ, 2011) encouraging people to participate in the U.S. Census (“http://youtu.be/bNd2aCMfFBQ”, 2010), and increase support for its national partner, the March of Dimes (http://www.zphib1920.org, 2009).
Leadership Skills
The leadership skills required to be a successful president of an international sorority include the ability to motivate, the ability to involve and support others, the ability to communicate, the ability to promote teamwork and collaboration, the ability to manage diversity, and technical skills. This list is not at all exhaustive, but it provides what this writer deems to be the most important skills necessary to be effective in maintaining a leadership role in a national organization.
The Ability to Motivate
Ann Gilley, Pamela Dixon, and Jerry Gilley write in the article Characteristics of Leadership Effectiveness: Implementing Change and Driving Innovation in Organizations that “a valuable management skill is the ability to attract and retain individuals who are passionate about their work and intrinsically motivated.” (Gilley, Dixon & Gilley, 2009) In order for Zeta Phi Beta to be successful, Sheryl Underwood must be an effective motivator who can effectively recruit and retain valuable members who are willing to provide monetary donations and physical labor to carry out the work of Zeta. No work can be completed without the support of the entire sorority, so she must be an influential force in creating the passion to serve the community within each graduate and undergraduate chapter of the organization.
The Ability To Involve And Support Others
As stated in the Josey-Bass Reader, “Research…shows that management support…greatly influenced the extent to which action was taken on creative ideas.” (Gilley, Dixon & Gilley, 2009) Sheryl Underwood provides a positive support system by involving other BGLO organizations with community efforts. Zeta Phi Beta also partners with other national organizations to combat issues like child obesity, premature birth, and domestic violence. The organization is a national supporter of Relay for Life, the March of Dimes, the NAACP, and the American Council on Human Rights. (Ross, 2000) By supporting these groups, Zeta Phi Beta attracts volunteers who develop lasting relationships with both participating organizations.
The Ability To Communicate
Leaders should communicate well, and communicate often. Sheryl Underwood uses traditional methods of communication to reach members of her organization; including Facebook, Twitter, email, conference participation, and television/radio interviews. As a follower on Twitter and Facebook, an avid reader of Z-Blasts and other Sorority publications, this writer is able to remain cognizant of all relevant events pertaining to the organization and to Sheryl Underwood. Her methods of communication are extremely effective because she employs so many different mediums in which to broadcast messages to Sorority members.
The Ability To Promote Teamwork And Collaboration
“Effectively managing teams and structuring work groups so as to support collaboration are two leadership abilities critical for achieving organizational goals. … Further, it has been evidenced that social networks have important effects on team performance and viability.” (Gilley, Dixon & Gilley, 2009) Zeta Phi Beta was founded for the purpose of fostering sisterhood. This automatically denotes that the organization will promote teamwork and collaboration internally. Zeta Phi Beta is also constitutionally bound to another organization, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. This bond allows both organizations to use each other as resources to make greater efforts in improving their national programs, including the Stork’s Nest program, and Z-Hope initiatives.
The Ability To Manage Diversity
According to Roosevelt Thomas, “representation will refer to the presence of multiple races and both genders…diversity will refer to the behavioral differences, similarities, and tensions that can exist among people when representation has been achieved.” (Thomas, 2006) Leaders understand the “core craft capability to be ‘making quality decisions in the midst of differences, similarities, and related tensions’.” (Thomas, 2006)
Historically, Zeta Phi Beta was comprised of only Black American women. Today, representation from all major ethnicities is present in the organization. As a leader, Sheryl Underwood must be sensitive to these differences and note the shift that the Sorority is taking when determining which causes it deems national efforts. For example, all causes cannot be related to Africa because the Sorority was founded to unite African-American women. In addition, Underwood must have a solid understanding of topics that are at the forefront of different cultural groups.
Zetas are united in sisterhood, but can be divided by challenges that only affect one culture or sub-culture. Nevertheless, as President of the organization, Underwood must have (and has thus far demonstrated) a solid comprehension of the best methods to unite over 125,000 women across racial, cultural, and socio-economic boundaries.
Technical Skills
Though Bass does not agree that all leaders need technical skills, in this era, technical skills are critical to the success of a leader. The federal government has increased its use of technology in routine tasks, and has even implemented telework programs for federal employees that utilize video chat capabilities. Entertainers have become more creative in promoting their causes or projects through the use of QR codes, smart phone applications, and websites.
Sheryl Underwood uses knowledge gained during her time in the U.S. Air Force and through courses taken throughout her academic career to initiate a significant overhaul of the
Zeta Phi Beta website. She also couples technology with communication by employing social media outlets including Facebook and Twitter to reach members of the Sorority, partners, and communities.
Conclusion
Sheryl Underwood has proven her ability to lead in an internationally recognized nonprofit organization while maintaining a successful career as an entertainer in America’s film, television, and radio industries. She has become an inspiration for many as noted in the positive feedback posted on the internet, printed in magazines, and demonstrated by the support of her followers. It is with this writer’s hope that this phenomenal Zeta woman continues to do work to enhance the quality of life of people on a global scale.
References
Bradley University (2011) Retrieved June 13, 2011 from http://www.bradley.edu/multicultural/orgs/
Gold, J. (2010, April 3) The Chipper Show: Sheryl Underwood Interview [Video file]. Retrieved June 13, 2011 from http://youtu.be/iRlEsxLO-nQ
PyramidWest (2008, August 15) Sheryl Underwood [Video file]. Retrieved June 13, 2011 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPwmiI2gfsA&NR=1
Sheryl Underwood Special Event. (2010) Miami Improv. Retrieved June 13, 2011 from http://miamiimprov.com/show_right.cfm?id=70339
Thomas, R. (2006) “Diversity Management: An essential craft for leaders”. Leader to Leader, 41
U.S. Census Bureau (2010, May 14) 2010 Census Message: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority [Video file]. Retrieved June 13, 2011 from http://youtu.be/bNd2aCMfFBQ
West, P. (2008, August 15) Sheryl Underwood [Video file]. Retrieved June 13, 2011 from http://youtu.be/ZPwmiI2gfsA
