In 2020, I was inducted into the American Advertising Hall of Achievement for pioneering creativity, technology, and diversity in the industry for more than 20 years.

I’ve delivered game-changing business results for brands like Patrón, Grey Goose, Intuit and Kate Spade, but I believe my boldest work lies ahead.

In 2021, I left the job I loved to pursue the work I want to do next — empowering courageous change in work, family, and faith. This messy journey of rediscovery is captured on UNFOLLOW, a podcast series available on iTunes and Spotify.

I’m a CFO (Chief Failure Officer) with an uncanny ability to fail at new things. It’s frustrating, but failure is our greatest source of creativity, vulnerability, and learning. From doomed start-ups to dud product launches, I’ve been privileged to make great mistakes early. Since bad ideas make room for brilliant ones, I’m obsessed with teaching others how to embrace failure as the cost of courage.

Working, leading, and living for change is hard, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Now, more than ever, we need wholehearted leaders who aren’t afraid to face our biggest problems with kindness, clarity, and determination. For the last 15 years, none of the roles I’ve held existed at the companies before so I love to produce business results with people solutions. I’ve cobbled together a career out of putting people first, doing hard things differently, and bringing my whole self to the office - bald head and all.

I’m the full-time father of three young kids, and a lucky husband to a patient teacher. I graduated from Florida A&M University’s journalism school and hold certifications in Entrepreneurship from Southern Methodist University and Executive Management from Harvard Business School.

When I’m not writing, speaking, or advising, I serve at church, mentor rising talent, blog about courage, and collect art. Any spare time and money are invested in a handful of organizations at the front lines of advancing equity and empowering future leaders of color.