DEREK AND SHERENE LEWIS
A Legacy of Family, Business, and Community
Derek and Sherene Lewis epitomize a true-to-life portrait of those individuals who live “victoriously by design.” Their love story, dynamic careers, and unyielding commitment to family have established an undeniable legacy worth celebrating. From humble beginnings to extraordinary achievements, the couple has been a guiding light of perseverance and success. As they continue writing new chapters in their shared life journey, their story is one of resilience, inspiration, faith, and hope. We are honored to feature this talented duo and their family in the first edition of the New Year 2025.
A LOVE STORY
Derek and Sherene met as undergraduate students at Hampton University, a private, Historically Black College in Hampton, Virginia. Sherene, a Political Science major, and Derek, a Business major, met while she was beginning her college career and he was ending his. They dated briefly, lost touch for several years, and reconnected in Sherene's senior year at Hampton. Ironically, Derek returned to the campus as an alum of the university to recruit for Pepsi. As fate would have it, their love story resumed, and later, they married in August 1992. Their joyous union has produced three children: Devon, 29; Jordan, 26, and Kellan, 18.
As Sherene recalls, “Derek encouraged me to make a career move to PepsiCo. I began a 15-year career at Taco Bell, serving in operations, marketing, and real estate product development roles. I retired once our third child, Kellan, was born.” Kellan is currently attending HU as a fourth-generation Hamptonian. The family is well known for supporting the institution and has established a great legacy at Hampton.
Derek grew up in Washington, DC, known commonly as the “Chocolate City,” in a single-parent household. Lewis shares, "There were three boys, and I was the oldest. Early on, I took on a leadership role in my family for us to survive and advance." He worked hard in school and attended Catholic school—Saint John's, grades 1-8; John Carroll High School in DC, grades 9-12. Lewis remarks, “The Catholic school setting provided a disciplined environment, quality education, and opportunity to develop focus.” Then, Lewis, as a third-generation Hamptonian, was off to university studies in the fall of 1984. Lewis says, "Meeting Sherene at HU was the greatest thing that could have ever happened."
“We have always rooted our relationship in faith, trust, and a deep understanding of each other's dreams,” Sherene shares. Derek adds, “We've built something special because we've supported each other every step of the way.” Their partnership has been a meeting of two driven minds with a shared vision for personal and professional success. Derek and Sherene met through a shared commitment to personal growth and have been each other's biggest supporters ever since.
INTEGRATING CORPORATE AND FAMILY SUCCESS
In 2022, Lewis retired from a 35-year career at PepsiCo. During his time with the company, he rose through the ranks, beginning as a campus hire and culminating his career with a seat at the C-suite corporate table as PepsiCo President, Multi-Cultural, North America. Derek’s career trajectory with PepsiCo is a testament to his leadership acumen and strategic vision. He made a profound impact by rising through the ranks to hold significant positions in the corporate organization.
Balancing the demands of a corporate job with family life was challenging. Derek explains, "I adhere to an ABC rule with my family and work: create accessibility to both work and home, establish balance, and continuously communicate. It's about delivering a quality work-life situation, day in and day out. Finding the right balance means successfully integrating both areas into your daily life."
Lewis's philosophy asserts that accessibility is essential. He states, “I didn't miss important things at work. I didn't miss important things at home.” He also stresses the importance of balance. He says, "When I was on vacation, I checked a few things here and there but enjoyed going on holiday. Operating with and being intentional about balance is essential as it sustains an individual being his best self at work and home."
For the last component of his ABC rule, Lewis offers, “Communication is key. When I need to be away from home or the office, I communicate and let people know what's coming up. The ABC rule of Accessibility, Balance, and Communication is essential in striving for a point of equilibrium.”
Not done, Derek shares the three Rs: “I visualize a house of success erected on a solid foundation with three main pillars: results, relationships, and reputation. Results matter, so be sure to get the right numbers. Relationships are key to navigating the journey, and it is best to have trust, collaboration, and teamwork with others. Reputation is your image, your brand. Your reputation speaks to your character and image and can affect the opportunities you gain. Overall, it's more about quality than quantity; get the numbers (results), but don't lose sight of quality, make connections (relationships), and work on the brand continuously (reputation). Again, these three Rs apply to my approach to family and work.”
Lewis closes by sharing, “Beyond the ABC rule and the three Rs, finding the right life partner is important. I was fortunate to meet Sherene, a powerful woman, early in life. I am certain we wouldn't be where we are without each other. The gift that keeps giving is our ability to stay on message and our shared vision. It is important to be on the same page. And not just on the same page but on the same page in the same book. Regarding my professional accomplishments, there is no woman behind the man; Sherene is the woman beside me, the man. We may need another “w” in a woman because she puts wow in the word, woman.”
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Click & Visit:
Website: https://realdereklewis.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdereklewis
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dereklewis1
Photo Credit: Carey Sheffield Photography
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