John Hope Bryant

The Greatest Compliment for a Leader: Compliments from Another Leader

This gives me an opportunity to brag about a man making a difference in this world; his own mark, from community to corporate, and back to community again. But the last move back to support community was completely by choice.  The man is Brian Tippens, an executive with HP, one of the world's leading companies.  

Brian happens to be Black, or African-American, but he is certainly not "Black for a living." Brian Tippens is a strong leader and a responsible corporate executive who also happens to "be Black."

I have known Brian for some time, but didn't really know him well until I saw what he did for others.  About this time last year I was asked by one of my offices if I could make a trip out to the Bay Area to say 'thank you' to HP corporation, which had donated computers for our HOPE Inner-City Cyber Cafe in our Oakland HOPE Center, in turn supported by Center signature partner Bank of the West.  

The interesting thing is, this was as much a leadership commitment of one Brian Tippens, as it was a corporate philanthropic commitment from and by HP.  We and I thanked both.  The commitment said a great deal about both also.

And so now you will know what I mean, when I say that I was deeply touched and honored to have Brian Tippens note me as his "Most Influential Leader" at a recent leadership development conference.

An admiration that goes both ways.

 

"Like most corporate execs I have the opportunity to attend leadership development summits from time to time. For this week's training we were asked to identify our "most influencial leader". — with John Hope Bryant."

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

Precious Memories -- me and my mentee and friend Tyrese Gibson in South Los Angeles

This is a special time captured on film, with and between my main man Tyrese Gibson and myself at the 20th Anniversary HOPE Opportunity Bus Tour this past April 24th, 2012, in South Los Angeles.

The 20th Anniversary "Chaos to Community" HOPE Opportunity Bus Tour marked both the rebuilding and revitalization of community, 20 years after the worst riot and civil unrest in U.S. history, as well as the 20th anniversary of Operation HOPE, serving underserved communities.

One person can make a difference. Tyrese Gibson is one of those people.

Onward and with HOPE

 

ohn 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. 

Introducing Rashaan Mateen, from the Gallup Organization

This is precisely why Jim Clifton is one of my corporate heroes.  The world knows Jim Clifton as chairman and chief executive officer of the Gallup Organization, but I know him as the man who quietly supports a number of HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges & Universities), who chairs the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, who innovated the Gallup-HOPE Index, which I believe will change our world by impacting an entire generation of young people, 4th grade through 12th grade in America.  But I also know Jim Clifton as a corporate mentor and business role model to first young A.J. Wurie, and now Rashaan Mateen.  And what a role model Rashaan has in Jim.  

SPECIAL FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH: "A Dreamer's Dream" starring Tyrese Gibson, Blair Underwood & Jill Scott

I am so proud of my brother and friend, and 5MK Ambassador Tyrese Gibson.  Share with all your friends.

"A Dreamer's Dream" starring Tyrese Gibson, Blair Underwood & Jill Scott from Voltron Recordz on Vimeo.

Bryant Speaks for 7th Annual 100 Black Men Youth Summit, Decatur, Georgia

 

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Led by my Atlanta team, James Bailey and Tara Dennis at Operation HOPE, while HOPE held Banking on Our Future financial literacy courses featuring our BB&T Bank HOPE Corps volunteers, I spoke before all assembled youth (approximately 800 total) for the 100 Black Men of Decalb County, 7th Annual Youth Summit 2012, in Decatur, Georgia.  Impressed with this incredible group of young leaders in the making, I was also blown away that the beautiful center we gathered in -- the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center -- was built in honor of an African-American entrepreneur, as well as a member of the 100.  

Porter Sanford, III went to college in Atlanta, at Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University), started a barber shop as his first business, and later opened Salford Realty in 1965.  Sanford Realty went on to become a major force in Decalb County, creating jobs and responsible for millions of dollars of economic activity in the greater Atlanta region.  Not satisfied with running a successful business, he became engaged in community; helping to found 100 Black Men of Dekalb County and the Samuel Jones Boys Club.

A great day, which also celebrated the legacy of an inspiring entrepreneur, and the young entrepreneurs that will now follow his lead.

Onward and with HOPE

 

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. 

 

 

A Special Birthday Wish From A Love in my Love: Ms. Kayelea Doff

 

Why I Do What I Do

I do it for THIS reason.  To see THIS expression on a young person's face.  Just look at this ~ it is literally priceless. And all I had to do here was to sign and give him a copy of my bestselling business book LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass).  Did you "get" what I just said?  I gave the young man a BUSINESS book.  Not fiction (all good by the way), or a comic, or some rap lyrics (all good too).  But a book on business and leadership, and inspired in the right way, this young man just lit up like a Christmas tree.

This is why I do what I do, and why I believe so passionately in our work in financial dignity at Operation HOPE, and the promise of the silver rights movement.

Our young people increasingly don't have something tangible of even aspirational to believe in, and as a result, we are losing them.

White House Highlights James Bailey as a “Champion of Change” For Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The entire Operation HOPE family is proud of James "Jay" Bailey. I am personally very, very proud of him. He is helping us shape our movement for silver rights change and empowerment here in our Atlanta market. Join me and us in celebrating our friend and colleague Jay Bailey.

Watch Jay Bailey live RIGHT NOW, on the White House website!  

White House Highlights James Bailey as a “Champion of Change” For Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr..

Photo Memories from L.E.A.D. Atlanta

 

One of my most inspired Love Leadership book signings to date -- and I have done many.  The photos speak for themselves.

One person can make a difference in the lives of our youth. Be that one person.

 

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 a Member of 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. 

 

Priceless Memories