Look Up

Do you have what it takes to be a great leader? Are you currently leading others or just taking control of your own destiny? Carolyn Chism Hardy provides the direction you need in Look Up. Within these pages are five simple principles she learned on her journey from poverty to prosperity. And she's sharing them with you.

Look Up chronicles Carolyn's life story and her triumph against all odds. She went from working as an employee at a billion-dollar brewing company to owning the facility. In a true rags-to-riches story, she used the skills her mother taught her to become the "Boss." Can you do the same? With the practical advice of a seasoned business professional and the tender love of a daughter for her mother, Carolyn opens up about her journey. She has dealt with everything from blatant racism to surviving a tornado to a diagnosis of breast cancer. Now Carolyn shares with you the principles that helped her not only survive, but also thrive! Look Up will inspire you to turn your failures into successes and your heartache into opportunity. Turn your role as an employee into that of an owner. Look Up is the road map you need on your journey to intentional leadership.

Carolyn Hardy, President/CEO Chism Hardy Investments, LLC Henderson Worldwide Investments, LLC (a/k/a Henderson Transloading Services) MitoGene, LLC/CEO Carolyn Chism Hardy is the seventh of sixteen children, which positioned her to become an extremely competitive adult. She is a native Memphian and a graduate of Melrose High School and the University of Memphis where she received her BBA and MBA. Additionally, is a certified public accountant (CPA). Carolyn is described as a trailblazer and serial entrepreneur. She began her career at the J. M. Smucker Company, successfully managing the finance, quality, and human resources departments before becoming the first African American female plant manager. After a successful career at Smuckers, Carolyn served as vice president of services at Honeywell-POMS Corporation where she was responsible for domestic and international software implementation. She then joined Coors Brewing Company and became the first African American female vice president and general manager of a major brewery. In 2006, she founded Hardy Bottling, the first African American female-owned brewery, with a 100-million-case annual capacity, and sold it to City Brewing in 2011. In 2007, Carolyn started her intermodal depot business with its first terminal in Memphis. In 2012, Carolyn and daughters, Jennifer and Whitney, founded Henderson Transloading Services, which transfers bulk materials such as grain, liquid and resin from hopper trailers into intermodal containers, railcars, or super sacks or from railcars into dry vans or containers. Carolyn is engaged in industry growth through her support of the growth in skilled manufacturing jobs. As one of the founders of Southwest Industrial Readiness training program, thousands of unemployed and underemployed individuals have been trained and secured jobs. Carolyn's primary objective is to promote growth and prosperity for all people. Carolyn gives back to the community with her memberships in various civic and community organizations. In 2018, she was named the chair of the Memphis Chairman's Circle. In 2015, she was named the first African American female chair of the Greater Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is the past chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - Memphis Branch board, past chair of New Memphis Institute, past chair of Soulsville (STAX) Foundation. Additionally, she is a member of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Tennessee Lottery Board, a founding member of Philanthropic Black Women and many other organizations.