THE AUTHOR

Jodi Handley Cherry is an accomplished lawyer and business leader. She has unique experience of crossing between the areas of technology, law, and finance. She has held roles across risk and compliance, audit, data analytics, software development, innovation, strategy, vendor management, legal services, corporate development, technology finance, and operational automation. She spent most of her career in the utility, financial services, and insurance industries.

In her most recent role, Jodi was VP of Strategy, Technology Planning, and Risk and Compliance for a Fortune 100 company. She left this role as she was diagnosed with 12 chronic illnesses. This unexpected health trial ignited her passion for helping others overcome wilderness seasons in life, specifically those involving chronic illness. While she regained her health, she became an advocate for those suffering in silence and navigating difficult health journeys. She authored a book titled, Out of the Wilderness, where she uncovers the unexpected connections of seemingly random symptoms that are labeled chronic illness. Through a lens of research, she reveals the prevalence of these “uncommon” ailments in a post-COVID-19 world. Just as important, she provides a healing framework rooted in faith to help those ailing from unexplainable illnesses. The book advocates health care reform to serve an untapped community grappling for help. It also provides a real-life account of Jodi’s path to combat twelve coexisting chronic illnesses, exposing the stark reality of the chronically ill. Jodi is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and shares her journey with a focus on the importance of faith in the middle of the wilderness. She explores finding purpose in the pain, providing a positive view of trudging through a wilderness season of life. She addresses the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people as she exposes her direct encounters with God throughout her health trial.

Jodi graduated summa cum laude from The University of Alabama in Management Information Systems with a minor in Computer Software Systems. Jodi was named an Austin Scholar, which was awarded to the top four seniors in The Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama. She was also awarded as Outstanding Senior in Management Information Systems her senior year. For post-graduate studies, Jodi graduated as Salutatorian from Birmingham School of Law. Jodi is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and is an active member of the Alabama State Bar Association.