Sheryl Cowan

Sharpshooter
DISC Type : DC

Interim CEO at Open to work

Falls Church, Virginia, United States

Overview

Sheryl Cowan is a global development executive with over 30 years of experience in agriculture and food security, including more than a decade as a Senior Vice President at CNFA. Colleagues describe her as a passionate, knowledgeable, and supportive leader. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University and is currently pursuing a second Masters degree in Agribusiness.

Outside of work, Sheryl is an avid cyclist and participates in charity rides to support mental health awareness and suicide prevention with NAMI New Hampshire. She is also personally invested in wellness topics, subscribing to newsletters like "Food is Health" to stay informed on cutting-edge information.

Unique fact: Sheryl began her distinguished international career as an Agriculture Peace Corps volunteer and is fluent in French.

Personality Overview

ROI Driven

Precise But Practical

Fast But Analytical

They like to stay in control of the negotiation or defining of the terms.  They respond well to strong and respectful communication. They prefer to move quickly, and expect the same from others.

Topics They Care About

Sustainable Food Systems
Actively engages with how the private sector and farmers can collaborate to scale solutions for more sustainable food systems, as shown by her recent attendance at an Agri-Pulse event.
Global Food Security
Her entire career has been dedicated to strengthening food security and livelihoods for vulnerable populations across more than 15 countries in Africa and Asia.
Women's Empowerment
Advocates for increasing women's roles in agriculture and promoting gender and financial inclusion, as seen in her public speaking and social media activity.

Media Appearances

Sheryl has no verified media appearances

Work History

4-2025
Interim CEO at Open to work
12-2020 - 3-2025
Senior Vice President, Programs at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)
6-2015 - 12-2020
Vice President, Programs at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)
2-2015 - 6-2015
Food Security and Livelihood Technical Lead at Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)
9-2013 - 2-2015
Deputy Director/Acting Director, Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems at International Relief and Development (IRD)

Education

1986 - 1990
Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University
8-2023 - 12-2024
Graduate Certificate from Delaware Valley University

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 15 Location : Falls Church, Virginia, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Interim CEO at Open to work
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Insights For Selling To Sheryl

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • When negotiating terms, help them build an impression that they are the ones calling the shots
  • Get to the point quickly instead of spending time doing small talk
  • Refer to testimonials from well-known industry leaders

DONT's

  • Don’t take too much time in sending them information if they ask for any
  • Avoid being a storyteller and don’t try to oversell
  • Do not back off when challenged, respond with a confident, objective answer instead

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Sheryl is

  • Confidence in impact is paramount to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Sheryl

  • If they are not convinced, they will have no hesitation in telling you the same.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Sheryl move?

  • If convinced, they can reach decisions quite fast.
  • Can Sheryl take some risk or not?

  • They do not shy away from taking risks, but can be quite binary about them.

You And Sheryl

Personality Compatibility


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