John Hope Bryant

Bloomberg Businessweek Archives: IF BILL GATES WERE BLACK...

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If Bill Gates Were Black...

This is still one of my favorite articles.  As appropriate now, as when it was first published in Bloomberg Businessweek.  Share, comment, reflect, and let me know what you think.

It's time for a new movement.

If Bill Gates were black, it would be less important that President Barack Obama is black. This is no slight to President Obama. It is an acknowledgment that while the route to success has changed, for too many in the black and minority community, their game plan has not.

For much of the past century, African Americans pursued social justice through government intervention, the ballot box, and ultimately elective office. While the number of black mayors and elected officials in this country is impressive, the number of black entrepreneurs is not. As a result, job creation in underserved communities, and among the black middle class, is stagnant.

The main driver of freedom in the world today is not the vote but access to capital. When I speak of capital, I obviously mean financial capital, but I also mean the Latin root word capitas, or “knowledge in the head.” That means financial literacy education, financial capability, and financial and economic empowerment.

Read the complete article on Bloomberg Businessweek here.

 

 

Solving Poverty: This Generation Needs An Economic Backup Plan

I recently met a very impressive young man while visiting with my father, Mr. Johnnie Will Smith, in Los Angeles, California.  This young man, who lived next door and is the son of one who helps to care for my proud and still self-powered father of 88 years young, possessed incredible vocal, musical, and even writing and producing talent.   In other words, he could not only sing and dance, he could 'think,' analyze and strategize too. The only problem with this young man's life success plan, as I shared with him, was that his primary dream plan did not have a practical backup plan.  And worse from my perspective, his backup plan, should really be his primary plan instead.  Let me explain.

Responsible rap (meaning rap that is true to its origins and roots), Hip-Hop, the broad world of celebrity, and our varied professional sports, are so very important to cultivate and carry forward as part of the larger African-American and minority success story framework for a race.  As Quincy Jones repeatedly burns into my soul and pounds into my thick head, "music, art and culture shapes the soul, helps to heal and bring together our world. They help to shape more well rounded people."  I agree with Q 100%.  

That said, having a career in music, the arts, entertainment (in front of the camera) and sports as the primary life success solution for more than 30 million African-Americans alone in this country, is just plain dumb.  Sure, a few lucky ones will make it through, but I would argue that most of them are not in fact all that 'lucky,' at the end of their career-day. A couple facts.

70% of all professional football players file bankruptcy within 5-years of retirement from the game, and there is a 100% injury rate amongst professional football players.

70% plus of all professional basketball players file bankruptcy within 5-years of retirement from the game.

And a vast majority of the "celebrity" artists, from rap to Hip-Hop and beyond, find themselves dead broke after a short, and often even highly visible career.  

US Embassy, Norway: Obama adviser and Global Dignity co-founder John Hope Bryant meet with youth in Oslo

February 12, 2103

John Hope Bryant is the CEO of non-profit Operation HOPE, a member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and the co-founder of Global Dignity. (Photo: U.S. Embassy)

Students at Lillestrøm High School gave Hope Bryant spontaneous applause and cheers throughout his speech, and said they felt inspired by his energy and personal approach. (Photo: U.S. Embassy)

On the morning of February 12, the U.S. Embassy had the pleasure of having John Hope Bryant visit Oslo. Bryant is, among many other things, the founder, chairman and CEO of non-profit Operation HOPE, a member of President Obama’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and the co-founder of Global Dignity together with Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon.

The day started with a breakfast dialogue meeting at Ambassador White’s residence Villa Otium with a group of young Norwegians involved with various non-profit organizations. Bryant talked to them about the importance of being a good role model in your community, and shared some inspiring stories from his own life.

Bryant went on to visit Lillestrøm high school, where all the 350 11th grade (VG1) students were waiting for him in the school aula. It is fair to say that Bryant mesmerized the crowd with his stories on dignity; in fact, the students gave him spontaneous applause and cheers throughout his speech, and said they felt inspired by his energy and personal approach. Lillestrøm high school takes Global Dignity Day very seriously, and has organized the Day at their school the past three years. The visit of Bryant was a nice reminder of the message of dignity, which according to Bryant is a non-controversial concept we can all agree on and work towards the realization of.

The following day, John Hope Bryant traveled to Trondheim to be a key note speaker at the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT).

Read the complete and original story here.

 

Huffington Post: On Leadership ~ Just Borrow My Ladder

John Hope Bryant

Bestselling business leadership author and philanthropic entrepreneur

Fear is the ultimate prosperity killer. This was the basic premise of my bestselling business book, LOVE LEADERSHIP: The New Way to Lead In A Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass).

I went on to say there were two things in the world, "love and fear... and what you don't love, you feared." I concluded by suggestng that "most of our so-called leaders today were actually leading by fear."

What I didn't consider when I wrote this in the book was the possibility that the internal threats of fear, far outweighed the external threats of fear (bosses, government, private sector, societal leaders, etc). What we fear most, is actually ourselves.

Getting over our own sometimes paralyzing fear and insecurities, is key to finding success and long-term stability in our lives. I remember as a child, all my friends just wanted to get rich, but I wanted to become wealthy. At an early age, I knew the difference, but that didn't just 'happen' to me either. It was intentional. My mother told me she loved me every day of my young life, and over time I began to believe it. Today I may have problems and challenges, but basic self esteem is not one of them. I believe in myself, and this along with a vision for myself has proven to be my ultimate strategic advantage in life.

I believed in myself because my mother told me so, and I believed in what I could do and who I could become because my father showed me so. My dad has owned a business for more than 50 years now, and my earliest memory of him was meeting a payroll out of the front door of our home in South Central Los Angeles.

My dad wore a suit two to three times a week growing up. A banker showed up in my inner-city classroom and taught us financial literacy, or what I now call 'the global language of money.' He wore a suit too. And so, of course when I was ten years old, I wanted to wear a suit.

All of this was intentional in my life, so I have a great deal of compassion today for those who did not have the benefit of a loving and supportive mother and father growing up. Half of success in life today I believe is simply self-esteem and self-confidence.

Read, share and comment on the complete article here.

 

 

 

The Operation HOPE Expanded "Silver Rights" Mission Statement

Operation HOPE was founded in the backdrop of the Rodney King riots of 1992 in Los Angeles, focused on serving and empowering the poor and underserved.  Today, in the backdrop of the global economic crisis impacting the US and the world over, we find that the nature and texture of our client profile has changed. Today we find ourselves serving the poor, the working class and the struggling middle-class too. 

Accordingly, Operation HOPE will, going forward, incorporate the broader frame as "the private banker to the struggling class," and the chief advocate for the silver rights movement -- or "how to make free enterprise work for the least of these, both here and around the world."

With the opening of our HOPE Financial Dignity Center, Atlanta at Ebenezer, now located in the backdrop of the King Center and the final resting place for Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King in Atlanta, Georgia, I increasingly see our work as a humble continuation of the third leg of Dr. King's dream, tackling racism, war and poverty, with economic justice (and empowerment) for all.  

 

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 though leader represented by the Bright Sight Group for public speaking. Mr. Bryant serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, an NYSE Euronext publicly traded company, and a division of $54 billion Ares Capital. 

 

Hip Hope Legend Russell Simmons and John Hope Bryant Close Out "Conversation on What Comes Next" During HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit 2012

The HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 14-15, 2012, in the city of Atlanta was a resounding success. The insights, passion and active engagement of the more than 1,500 delegates, 100 speakers and coverage from over 50 media outlets worldwide over the 2-day summit, truly made it a historic event.

The Summit, themed Community, Character and (Responsible) Capitalism included the substantive participation of U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Steve Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Services Roundtable (1999-2012), Bill Rogers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc., Michael Arougheti, President of Ares Capital Management, Don Graves, Executive Director of the U.S. President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at the White House, Gallup Chairman and CEO, Jim Clifton, Dr. Bernice A. King and Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons. On November 14th we celebrated the grand opening of the HOPE Financial Dignity Center, Atlanta at Ebenezer and hosted the Global Dignity Forum, which featured HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Professor Pekka Himanen of Finland, Dr. Bernice A. King, Benjamin Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP and civil rights legend CT Vivian. 

 

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 though leader represented by the Bright Sight Group for public speaking. Mr. Bryant serves on the board of directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, an NYSE Euronext publicly traded company, and a division of $54 billion Ares Capital.

 

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Urban Entrepreneur Russell Simmons Featured in Hip Hop Weekly around HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit 2012

For probably the first time in history, US Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, and honorary "Hip Hop Chairman" Russell Simmons, were featured together in an important and noteworthy article -- and in Hip Hop Weekly no less!  

This is impressive, and suggests that there exists very real promise for the "silver rights" movement to find wings and take flight in this post global economic crisis environment.  Helping millions in the midst of it all.

John Hope Bryant Speaking on Global Leadership, and the Middle East Opportunity, at SEDCO Holdings in Saudi Arabia

 

HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit, 2012, Featuring Dr. Bernice King

 

Dr. Bernice A. King provides keynote remarks at the closing session of the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit on November 15, 2012, with an introduction by HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant.  She is brilliant.

 

 

 

Achmat Dangor, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa, to Speak at the HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit

Achmat Dangor

Chief Executive Officer
Nelson Mandela Foundation
WORKING GROUP SESSION LEADER

Achmat Dangor is one of the closest confidants to the Honorable Nelson Mandela in South Africa, and serves as the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and we are honored to have the foundation as one of our strategic partners in South Africa.

Achmat Dangor is the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Nelson Mandela Foundation promotes and enables the growth of human fulfillment and the continuous expansion of the frontiers of freedom.

Before joining the foundation in January 2007, Mr. Dangor was Director of Advocacy, Communications and Leadership at UNAIDS, and before that, he was Interim Director of the World AIDS Campaign. Previously, Mr. Dangor served as Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation. Prior to that, he worked in the private sector, including a 13-year stint as a senior executive in Revlon Inc.’s South African subsidiary. As the founding executive director of the Kagiso Trust (1986-1991) he worked alongside prominent political and church leaders, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to build up the largest black-led foundation in South Africa.

In 1993, Mr. Dangor returned to South Africa to head up the Secretariat of the Drought Forum created by the newly unbanned liberation movements, churches and community organizations to coordinate relief efforts at the height of the severe drought of early 1990’s. The Forum’s brief was to ensure that government and private resources reached the neediest people and that a solid development foundation was laid. In 1994 he joined the Independent Development Trust (IDT) as director for rural development, and later served as its acting CEO during a crucial transformation period. During this time he was also a member of various task groups set up by the office of then Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki, to create the Transitional National Development Trust (TNDT) and its successor, the National Development Agency (NDA).

Achmat Dangor is a writer who has published five works of fiction and poetry. It is a vocation that he continues to pursue as he has an active interest in the arts and culture. Random House bought his first USA publication in 1999 and his last novel has been translated into five languages.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation leads the development of a living legacy that captures the vision and values of Nelson Mandela’s life and work. Through the creation of strategic networks and partnerships, the Nelson Mandela Foundation directs resources, knowledge and practice to add value and demonstrate new possibilities. It embodies the spirit of reconciliation, ubuntu and social justice.

Achmat Dangor | HOPE Global Financial Dignity Summit.

We are honored to have our friend and partner Achmat Dangor with us for the global summit.

For complete information on the global summit, check here.