John Hope Bryant

Impressive Leader for Africa's Future, Who Also Happens to be Black

Funeka Montjane,
Image by: Arnold Pronto

I am so very impressed by the smart, focused, intelligent, educated, thoughtul and thoroughly results oriented leadership talent that I continue to see at the top of some of South Africa's top businesses and corporations.  This young lady, Ms. Funeka Montjane, is but one example.

I have the pleasure of meeting her tomorrow morning around our growing portfolio of 'silver rights' empowerment work in South Africa, being done by Operation HOPE, South Africa; but I wanted you to meet her first.  That's how impressed I am with her.  I want you to know her here, even before I meet her in person (smile).

You can read the complete article on her here.  What an inspiration.  And no, we have no examples of a Black woman running a major banking division in the United States.  At least, not yet (a positive challenge to all of my friends in U.S. banking here).

John Hope Bryant is a thought leader, founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and Bryant Group Companies, Inc. Magazine/CEO READ bestselling business author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass), the only African-American bestselling business author in America, and is chairman of the Subcommittee for the Under-Served and Community Empowerment for the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability, for President Barack Obama.  Mr. Bryant is the co-founder of the Gallup-HOPE Index, the only national research poll on youth financial dignity and youth economic energy in the U.S. He is also a co-founder of Global Dignity with HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland. Global Dignity is affiliated with the Forum of Young Global Leaders and the World Economic Forum.  Mr. Bryant is a thought leader represented by the Bright Sight Group for public speaking. Mr. Bryant serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (NYSE: ACRE), a specialty finance company that is managed by an affiliate of Ares Management LLC, a global alternative asset manager with approximately $59 billion in committed capital under management as of December 31, 2012. 

Related articles

John Hope Bryant and Operation HOPE Team Visits South Africa This Week

Solving Poverty: This Generation Needs An Economic Backup Plan

Global Dignity, USA Reports Results

Bryant Speaks at South African School on Financial Dignity and Hope for Their Futures

Historic Images: Morning of the HOPE 20th Anniversary Opportunity Bus Tour, 2012

 

When pictures tell the entire story.

Distinguished co-chairs included Peter Ueberroth, then chairman of Rebuild Los Angeles; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa; AEG Worldwide CEO Tim Leiweke, civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young who had visited the same community with his friend Dr. Martin Luther King; Jr. following the Watts Riots; entertainment icon and entrepreneur Quincy Jones, who unveiled a powerful “answer” to and for the youth of the future on this day in April, 2012; along with COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake who built a $60 million cathedral in the months following the unrest; and Reverend Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray who is single-handedly credited with bringing peace to South Los Angeles in the days following the unrest.

A Different Sort of Love Story

Hanging with Vince and my crew at my local barber shop, Rick's Barber Shop, where you get the real education of what's going on in the economy, and the neighborhood. But coming here today was really just an excuse to ride my other love -- my Indian Chief motorcycle. She is pure class, strength, elegance, style and grace. Her beauty sort of sneaks up on you. Understated elegance. A strength that does not need to scream or draw undue attention to herself.



Sometimes I call her Beast, and sometimes I call her Freedom. You can guess her selected name for this day (smile).


We all need someone and something to love, something meaningful to do, and something to wish for.


John Hope Bryant is founder, chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and bestselling author of LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass).

- Posted from my iPhone

Lessons From My Sister On Love Leadership

My big sister, Mara Lamont Hoskins, who is a Master Fitness Instructor (or a fitness instructor's instructor), and a former award winning female body builder as well, protected me as a youth growing up in Compton, California, and continues to educate and teach me to this day.  

Below I have shared a cute, loving little note she sent to me right before my last birthday, recounting our time together, growing up in Compton, California.  And my sister is absolutely correct -- we lived amidst poverty and struggle,  but thanks to our enterprising and hard working mother, Ms. Juanita Smith, and later my dad Mr. Jonnie Will Smith, we and I really did not want for much.  Most of all, we had their amazing, undying love and support.  

Images from the White House Urban Entrepreneurship Summit, Newark, NJ

   

A special thank you to Jae Ko for these photographs.

 

John Hope Bryant at the HOPE Financial Literacy Forum at NYSE, July 21st, 2011

Photo credit: Sevan Torossian, Operation HOPE