Kenyatta Beverly Chooses to “Do It Scared”

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Kenyatta Beverly exemplifies the power of embracing fear and pushing forward, echoing the sentiment of “do it scared,” as popularized by author Ruth Soukup in her 2019 book of the same name. As labor and employment counsel for The Davey Tree Expert Company, Beverly’s journey is marked by exceptional achievements.

Previously, as labor relations counsel for the State of Illinois, she adeptly represented numerous agencies, even though she lacked an appetite for litigation. Despite the less glamorous aspects of that job, such as driving for hours to tiny towns for arbitrations at correctional facilities, Beverly appreciates the challenges she faced along the way, all while maintaining a nearly flawless record.

As director of labor relations for Acero Charter Schools, Beverly faced off against the Chicago Teachers Union, one of the most powerful teachers’ unions in the US. This challenge intensified amid the pandemic, requiring rapid adaptation to remote learning and navigating a constantly shifting landscape of uncertainty.

Despite her nonconfrontational nature, Beverly found herself immersed in high-stakes litigation, placing her amid the most intense legal battles in Illinois.

These are the beautiful contradictions of Kenyatta Beverly. The lawyer is from East Saint Louis, Illinois, which was once named an “All-America City” by the National Civic League before it was destabilized by deindustrialization and the outsourcing of American jobs overseas. It’s the same city where jazz icon Miles Davis was raised, showcasing both its cultural richness and the stark impact of economic decline, leaving families without sustainable livelihoods.

Beverly cherishes her roots and the hard work her parents invested in their family. During her college years, tragedy struck when her brother fell victim to gun violence while home on leave from the Army. Recently, she mourned the loss of a beloved cousin to the same senseless fate, just steps away from her family’s home. These experiences tested Beverly deeply, initially making her hesitant as a young lawyer to share her background. However, she has embraced her unique journey, recognizing its value in shaping her into a compassionate attorney and philanthropist.

In third grade, Beverly glimpsed the kind of life she wanted when her class took a field trip to St. Louis University School of Law and participated in a mock trial.

“One of the law students acting as an attorney was a young Black woman. I was amazed by her. To this day, I remember the image of her, her powerful presence, her confidence, and how intelligently and articulately she presented.”

Kenyatta Beverly

“One of the law students acting as an attorney was a young Black woman,” Beverly remembers. “I was amazed by her. To this day, I remember the image of her, her powerful presence, her confidence, and how intelligently and articulately she presented. That’s all it took for me. I did not understand all that a lawyer did at the time, but knew I wanted to be just like her.”

Being a Black woman in law and leadership is still, unfortunately, a relative rarity, and this was at the forefront of Beverly’s mind when interviewing at Davey.

“I looked at our website and social media, and I didn’t see many faces that look like mine,” Beverly says. “During my interview I was direct about my concerns. I owe an incredible amount of credit to Davey’s general counsel (GC), Erika Schoenberger. She acknowledged that in our industry, it’s an issue. But it was something she wanted to work on with me.”

Shortly thereafter, fully supported by leadership, Davey formed its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee to make Davey more inclusive and a great place to work and advance for all employees. Beverly says she would quickly sense any insincerity, but the changes she’s seen have been genuine and remarkable, including the formation of multiple employee affinity groups for underrepresented groups.

“My GC empowers me with authority to select our external legal counsel, and I leverage this privilege to ensure our law firms foster substantive opportunities for minority attorneys,” Beverly says. “These discussions are imperative, and it’s clear where my expectations lie.”

This isn’t the first moment in her career that Beverly has gone to bat for minority attorneys, and it won’t be the last. Beverly credits the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (BWLA), an organization she served as president of from 2020 to 2021, for fostering an environment where Black women attorneys can be themselves. BWLA provided her with invaluable support and meaningful relationships with like-minded women who have experienced the best and worst the profession has to offer.

Beverly, a 2023 fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and future board chair of Girls Inc. of Chicago, epitomizes the organization’s mission to inspire girls to be “strong, smart, and bold.”

With a deep commitment to representation, Beverly mentors students and professionals, leveraging her own experiences. She holds leadership roles in multiple organizations that serve disadvantaged communities and underrepresented groups.

 
“My GC empowers me with authority to select our external legal counsel, and I leverage this privilege to ensure our law firms foster substantive opportunities for minority attorneys.”

Kenyatta Beverly

Beverly also enjoys caring for her many beautiful plants, each uniquely named, as well as training at her gym. Her 345-pound deadlifts reflect her physical resilience and strength, but her impressive professional journey demonstrates her tenacity no matter what challenges come her way.

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