Dr. Cheryl Watkins-Knott is a champion for women, an innovator, a
serial entrepreneur, and a strategic leader with a proven track record
of creating, managing, and growing businesses in corporate,
non-profit, and start-up environments.
She is a physician by training, with an MBA from Kellogg School of
Management, Northwestern University. She is expert in developing
strategies to improve organizations’ overall market positioning,
profitability, operational efficiency, and excellence. Early successes
included being part of a leadership team that grew a Swedish start-up
from $60,000 to $60 million in five years, and leading and growing a
$100 million division of Merck in A Vice President/General Management role.
Dr. Watkins-Knott joined BioSTL in 2013 as an
entrepreneur-in-residence and mentor to start-ups in the region, while
leading efforts to encourage women and minorities to develop
STEM-focused businesses. This initiative received national bet
practice awards and was recognized by the Obama White House.
Since Dr. Watkins-Knott brought her innovative spirit to YWCA
Metro St. Louis in 2021, the agency has increased its revenue and the
number of individuals and families served. Under her leadership, the
agency has earned accreditation as an Outstanding Provider by Social
Current/Council on Accreditation; the National Program of Excellence
Accreditation from the National Head Start Association; and YWCA USA’s
Association Excellence Award for Mission Impact in the field of
Women’s Empowerment. Additionally, the agency earned the FOCUS St.
Louis What’s Right with the Region Award for Demonstrating Innovative
Solutions for its Successful Pathways® Department of Labor registered
apprenticeship. Most recently, the agency received the international
Purple Ribbon Award for Outstanding Multi-Agency Partnership
(supporting survivors of sexual and domestic violence) from Alliance
for HOPE International.
