Growing up in Buffalo, NY, amidst the legacy of O.J. Simpson and the NBA's rising star Bob McAdoo, my childhood gravitated towards sports. Engaging in football leagues and basketball camps, my passion for sports was undeniable. In a time with fewer electronic distractions, I explored music and art with friends, forming a garage band and also spending countless hours drawing and painting, unintentionally making a name for myself as a talented artist.
School, on the other hand, felt like a routine job, with my interests in subjects outside of art mild and largely unexplored. As the youngest in my family, career considerations were low on my priority list, and my father's war experiences instilled a hesitancy towards military careers for his sons. Despite being surrounded by a family of educators and social workers, I never really envisioned that for myself. The pivotal moment in my academic journey came from Mr. Frankowiak, my 8th grade teacher, who suggested I attend McKinley High School as an art major due to my gifts, unknowingly steering me towards a vocational path.
College, initially an extension of high school in that I continued down the art major pathway, turned into a wake-up call after a failed first semester. The disappointment in my mother's face made me reassess my priorities. Encouraged by Dr. Carrie Johnson, my guidance counselor, I switched majors to business, connecting my education to practical applications. My grades improved significantly, and I earned valuable internships in my last two years.
Post-college, a job opportunity at IBM, facilitated by my uncle, President Leroy Coles of the Buffalo Urban League, presented a unique challenge – the IPAT (Intelligence Performance Aptitude Test), an intelligence test with a formidable calculus section. The exam had proven to be a barrier to other minority candidates before me. Dr. Johnson's earlier suggestion to take a calculus class for graduate school preparation proved invaluable during the IBM interview where I aced the test, securing my position and fueling my commitment to diversity initiatives.
Over three decades, I've navigated through progressive, and global leadership roles in Fortune 40 companies (including J&J, Boston Scientific, McKesson, GE and Cardinal Health), earned an MBA, and become the Managing Partner of an IT Consulting firm. Actively engaged in diversity programs, ERGs, and mentoring along the way, I draw inspiration from my journey to identify and nurture talent among young African American boys. My goal is to provide an alternative perspective, unlocking hidden genius and intellectual power in a world filled with distractions and misleading influences.