John Hope Bryant

Introducing the HOPE Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship | Operation HOPE Blog

 

Read the complete story here, on the HOPE Blog, or watch the video here.

Introducing the HOPE Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship | Operation HOPE Blog.

Unsung Heroes for Financial Dignity: Members of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability

 

Last Thursday, January 19th, 2012, in a full capacity meeting in the Cash Room at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, members of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability met to kick off 2012 with a strong agenda and plan on behalf of President Obama and the nation.

Some of the accomplishments of this meeting included:

• A formal and Council approved recommendation by my friend and Council Partnership Subcommittee Chair Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz around financial literacy and federal employee engagement.
• An Interim Report from the full Council to President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner.

Additionally, the Council and the public heard from Treasury Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions Cyrus Amir-Mokri, Council Chairman John Rogers, Josh Wright, acting director of the Treasury Office of Financial Education and Financial Access, and substantive subcommittee reports from Council members Arty Arteaga, Ted Beck, Amy Rosen and Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz.  Council vice chair Amy Rosen moderated an in-depth discussion with Alan B. Krueger, chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers. Later, friend to the Council, Ms. Michelle Greene, vice president of corporate responsibility for NYSE Euronext and executive director of the NYSE Foundation, moderated a panel discussion with Steve Bigari, CEO of Stellar Restaurant Solutions and founder of America's Family, Brad Wenger, general manager of Hilton, Wilmington, Mary DuPont, director of financial empowerment for the State of Deleware, and Mateen Ali, senior manager of retirement and wealth strategy for Best Buy.

Fred D. Smith Quote of the Day

"...2012 is the year of the Dragon --- positive opportunities for individuals who focus and deliver."

Fred D. Smith, senior advisor to John Hope Bryant, in an email about his 2012, first quarter plans for HOPE! Let's go...

Memories from Dignity Day, Hong Kong

Images from the Forum of Global Shapers, Atlanta Hub Launch

Photos from the Launch of the Global Shapers Forum Atlanta Hub | Operation HOPE Blog.

SPECIAL FROM THE HUFFINGTON POST: On Leadership: Why Financial Dignity is the New Movement for Financial Literacy

 

 

John HopeBryant

Bestselling business leadership author and philanthropic entrepreneur

I am a supporter of financial literacy. I am a constructive critic of financial literacy. Both are legitimate and essential in an honestdialogue. As HOPE Global Spokesman Ambassador Andrew Young said, "John, be skeptical, but don't be cynical. To be cynical is to be without hope."

Operation HOPE pioneered financial literacy as policy within the U.S. federal government in 2008, when we inspired then President George W. Bush to sign an Executive Order establishing financial literacy as new federal government policy, and with it the creation of the first ever U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy. I was honored to serve as vice chairman for this first council, with Charles Schwab as chairman, and to serve as chairman of the Council Committee on the Under Served.

President Barack Obama took this vision to another level; bringing to life his own Executive Order during his Presidency, and thereafter establishing the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability (on which I am proud to serve), and then the Federal Consumer Protection Bureau.

President Obama named smart people to head both, with Ariel Capital Management's extremely smart founder John Rogers chairing the Council, and my friend Professor Elizabeth Warren spearheading the foundation of and for the Bureau. I recall one conversation in particular with Professor Warren, where I asked her what she would think if I said, "financial literacy was the new civil rights issue?" Not only did she agree with me, but she went on to say that she thought that "done right," while regulatory review and policy making might consume the formative years of the Bureau, its legacy should be a new foundation of financial literacy in America. Professor Warren and I agree 100%.

Read the complete article here on the Huffington Post.

 

 

 

MAYOR REED, AMBASSADOR YOUNG, JOHN HOPE BRYANT LAUNCH GLOBAL SHAPERS INITIATIVE

World Economic Forum targets group of emerging young leaders with leadership training and mentorship opportunities 

Mayor Kasim Reed, Ambassador Andrew Young and Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant hosted a reception this evening at the W Hotel in Downtown Atlanta for candidates interested in applying for the Forum of Global Shapers, Atlanta Hub. More than 50 young leaders will be selected over the next three years to proactively and positively impact the global agenda through the Atlanta Hub for the Global Shapers Community.

“The incoming class of Atlanta Global Shapers will use their talents to foster fresh ideas and entrepreneurial solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing our city,” said Mayor Reed. “They will also collaborate with other Global Shapers worldwide to share ideas and best practices on tackling global problems. I am delighted to be a part of an initiative that will benefit Atlanta and the region while also giving our young, emerging leaders a platform to grow professionally.”

Read the complete story on Mayor Kasim Reed and the City of Atlanta website here.

Lovingly Frustrated with my African Family

I was really proud to travel last year as a guest of the Ugandan Financial Literacy Week organizing committee, and to speak on what I call the new civil rights issue for all people, and the spark for a new global silver rights movement -- or financial literacy, and financial dignity empowerment for all.  I saw so much promise, and very real opportunity, while there in the country.  I have said before, that if I didn't have a full agenda based in North America, I would spend most of my time in Africa -- helping her to develop herself, and moving on the incredible untapped potential and opportunity that lies almost everywhere you look. I could even live, in Africa.

That said, I was reflecting today on my visit to one African country, Uganda, and the frustration that gathered inside of me as my hosts recounted the fairly common tale of what is happening along the lines of small business and entrepreneurship in many African cities, and villages.  My host explained to me that even an hour or two outside of the capital city of Kampala, Uganda, where there are no paved roads and public services are spotty at best, you have Chinese businessmen and entrepreneurs, selling fruits and vegetables from karts and stores on corners in these small towns and villages.  Not only do I have no problem with my Chinese brothers and sisters doing this (selling in towns and townships in Africa), I commend them too. What a sense of enterprise.  

My frustration lies with my African brothers and sisters, and specifically, my Ugandan African family.  

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed to Announce Forum of Global Shapers, Atlanta Hub tomorrow evening, Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Mayor Kasim Reed, Ambassador Andrew Young, John Hope Bryant and Organizing Committee Announce Forum of Global Shapers, Atlanta, Hub