UNSHAKEN: A Guide for Authentic Resilient Leadership

By Dr. Cheryl Pruitt and Dr. Eric Kellogg

Book Overview

Leadership isn't about perfection. It's about purpose.
And sometimes, it's about rising when everything tries to knock you down.

Dr. Eric Kellogg and Dr. Cheryl Pruitt are proof that you can lead through fire and come out stronger, wiser, and more grounded in who you are.

He's a four-term mayor who transformed a city others had given up on.
She's a nationally recognized superintendent who turned crisis into opportunity during one of the nation's most challenging educational takeovers.

Their perspectives-one forged in city government, one in educational leadership; one as a Black man navigating political complexity, one as a Black woman championing equity-create a complete picture of resilient leadership that speaks to universal truths.

A Book About Resilience, Redemption, and Leading with Heart

In UNSHAKEN, Eric and Cheryl share the authentic stories behind their leadership journeys-the moments that tested them, the people who stood with them, and the faith that carried them through.

Through their distinct yet parallel experiences, you'll discover:

- How to answer the call to leadership even when you don't feel ready
- The difference between those who cheer for your title and those who truly walk with you
- How to build a circle of trust in spaces where authenticity is rare
- Ways to lead with integrity when the pressure to compromise is high
- The power of faith as the foundation for sustainable leadership
- How to rebuild and rise stronger after setback or scandal
- What it means to lead as your full self-especially when you're the first or only

A Celebration of Purpose-Driven Leaders

This book celebrates:

Superintendents who refuse to give up on students

Mayors who believe their cities are worth fighting for

Nonprofit leaders who see possibility where others see problems

Anyone who leads with conviction and refuses to let the hard moments define them

Whether you're a woman leading in spaces that question your authority, a man learning to lead with vulnerability, or anyone navigating systems not built with you in mind-you'll find yourself in these pages.

It's for leaders who know that the work matters more than the applause and that real legacy is built in the struggle, not just the success.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0960132716
• ISBN13: 9780960132713
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: National African American Literacy Institute, Nashville, Tennessee
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.4" x 6.0"