Servitude is not a slogan for Deryl McKissack, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of McKissack & McKissack. It is a discipline shaped by faith, history and an unshakable belief that leadership exists to elevate others. Each day begins with reflection and physical renewal, a practice that anchors her focus on purpose before performance. That grounding has guided a career spent building not only structures, but trust, opportunity and enduring cultural impact across the built environment.

McKissack’s entrepreneurial journey began with conviction rather than capital. Trained as a Civil Engineer and educated at Howard University, she left a secure professional path to establish her own firm with minimal resources and maximum resolve. She represents the fifth generation in a lineage of builders, carrying forward a family legacy that traces back to a Master Brickmaker and the Founders of the nation’s oldest Black-owned architecture practice. That history instilled both pride and responsibility, shaping her insistence on excellence from the very beginning.

In the early years, persistence defined progress. McKissack personally researched prospects, initiated outreach and built credibility project by project. Without early access to traditional financing, she prioritized payroll and client delivery, often placing the company’s needs above her own. Those formative experiences forged a culture centered on accountability, humility and resilience, values that remain core to McKissack & McKissack today.

Over time, the firm expanded into a national presence, trusted with some of the country’s most complex and culturally significant projects. Its portfolio spans aviation, education, utilities and landmark cultural institutions, including sites that preserve history and shape public memory. These assignments require more than technical competence. They demand long-term relationship building, strategic patience and an ability to navigate multi-stakeholder environments with care and clarity.

Recent years have marked a new chapter of intentional focus. McKissack strengthened leadership by appointing a seasoned President and assembling a team experienced in scaling professional services organizations. Business development was restructured around key markets, empowering local leaders to deepen relationships and anticipate opportunities. Sector priorities were refined to align with areas where the firm’s expertise delivers the greatest value, while innovation investments such as advanced digital tools and new service capabilities enhanced execution and client outcomes.

People remain central to every strategy. The firm recruits individuals aligned with its cultural values of humility, drive and intelligence, then supports them through mentorship, certification initiatives and clear pathways for growth. Internships and readiness programs extend that commitment outward, helping cultivate the next generation of industry professionals and broaden access within a historically exclusionary field.

McKissack’s passion is renewed through shared wins. She finds energy in pursuing projects that leave lasting cultural footprints and in watching her leadership team secure work independently, evidence that ownership and trust are taking root. Her desire to deepen communication reflects a constant effort to listen more fully and meet people where they are.

Recognized as a Titan 100 Honoree, McKissack exemplifies leadership grounded in service. Through McKissack & McKissack, she continues to honor the past while building a more equitable, resilient future, proving that when servitude leads, impact follows.