What if the greatest leadership lesson isn’t about winning but about starting over?
On this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Cheri Garcia, Founder & CEO of Cornbread Hustle, a boutique staffing firm that has helped more than 3,000 people with criminal records find meaningful employment, dignity, and a path forward.
Cheri is a force.
She rebuilt her life after addiction, transformed her pain into purpose, and built one of the most impactful second-chance hiring movements in the country. Today, she helps companies create workplaces that change lives—not just bottom lines.
They unpack:
The Leadership of Reinvention - why your lowest point can become your greatest asset—and how Cheri used her recovery to build a company centered on empathy, accountability, and transformation.
The Truth About Second-Chance Hiring - what companies think it is vs. what it really looks like behind the scenes, and why individuals with criminal records are some of the most driven, loyal, and high-performing hires.
Healing Before Hiring - how programs like Junk Hustlers and the Starting Over Program rebuild self-worth, identity, and confidence—because employment only sticks when inner work comes first.
Community as a Leadership Strategy - why returning citizens need structure, accountability, and people who believe in them—and how leaders can create cultures that support real change.
Entrepreneurship as Redemption - how Cheri teaches individuals to use creativity, discipline, and ownership to rewrite their stories and design their futures.
If you’ve ever believed in redemption, resilience, or the power of one “YES” this conversation will stay with you.
Cheri reminds us that reinvention isn’t a destination, it's a journey we walk together.
Chapters:
00:00 – Meet Cheri Garcia & the Mission of Cornbread Hustle
00:00 – The Story Behind 3,000+ Second Chances
00:00 – From Addiction to CEO: Cheri’s Reinvention
00:00 – What Second-Chance Hiring Really Looks Like
00:00 – Why Parole & Probation Can Support Success
00:00 – How to Navigate Setbacks with Strength
00:00 – Inside Junk Hustlers
00:00 – The 12-Week Starting Over Program
00:00 – Final Lessons on Leadership, Healing & Human Potential
| Connect with Us |
Follow Cheri Garcia:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherigarcia/
Cornbread Hustle: http://cornbreadhustle.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cornbreadhustle/
(Cheri Garcia is the founder of Cornbread Hustle, a company dedicated to helping people coming out of prison and those in recovery find transformation through employment or entrepreneurship. After reinventing her own life, she has spent years helping others do the same—believing “we’re all just walking each other home.” Cornbread Hustle has placed more than 3,000 people with criminal records into meaningful jobs and continues to expand its impact through re-entry programs and community-driven initiatives.)
Follow Inside the C-Suite:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/
Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b
Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160
Want to be on the show or know someone who might?
Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices