Blog about Kwame Jackson

Interview with Kwame Jackson

(admin) — Thu, 1 Feb 2007 23:37:36 +0000

http://www.rossbbsa.com/conference/kwame_interview.php

Feb 17 - "Kwame will be the keynote speaker for the MBA Black Business Students Association 31st Annual Alfred L. Edwards Conference at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan Webpage - Interview

BBSA: Interview with Kwame Jackson

Friday, January 26, 2007

An Interview with Kwame Jackson: Keynote Speaker at the upcoming Alfred L. Edwards 31st Annual BBSA Conference

Kwame will be a keynote speaker at the Black Business Students Association upcoming Alfred L. Edwards 31st Annual BBSA Conference at the Four Points Sheraton Ann Arbor February 16 18, 2007.

Kwame, a final candidate from the reality TV show The Apprentice, received an MBA from Harvard University and is the chairman of Legacy Holdings LLC.

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My mother Marilyn has been the most influential person by far. She passed away due to cancer when I was 15 and she was 41.

However, she provided the can-do spirit of confidence and self-esteem that I have now. My grandfather was illiterate and my grandmother completed the 9th grade, but my mother found a way to go to college on scholarship at Howard University where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta and became the first person in our family to attend and graduate from college.

She later went on to start her own CPA firm and to provide a "Cosby-like" upbringing for me full of blessings. She was the ideal professional and personal role model, someone who created a no excuse culture of rising above your circumstance.

What would you have done differently if you had to redo your experience on The Apprentice?

Obviously most would say not hire Omarosa! Ha!

But I don't live a woulda, shoulda, coulda life. I conducted myself with professionalism, dignity, and class which have all taken me thus far as an entrepreneur, business owner, professional speaker, media personality, and to the doorstep of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. For all of that, I'm very proud of the way I conducted myself on the Apprentice and would not change a thing.

I have no regrets, I'm living life on my own terms, defining my own success, all while owning my own time! I can't complain, I have been blessed.

In your opinion, what are the top three traits of a successful entrepreneur?

1. Tenacity!
2. Vision
3. Passion
4. When all else fails, remember point 1

At Harvard, you were involved in several dot-com start ups; you've worked on Wall Street and also for P&G. Which of those experiences has been most meaningful in terms of shaping your approach to business?

I think they have all helped to shape the business person that I have become in different ways
1. HBS provided a stellar pedigree, problem-solving framework, and network to access almost any business opportunity seen or unforeseen.

2. The dot-com ventures provided me with a glimpse into the high stakes world of entrepreneurship and vision manifestation. They also connected me with what it means to be passionate about an idea in business. Lastly, they taught me the tough lessons on business failures and the difference between being a preferred equity versus common share holder in the event of a successful buyout. Always be on the right side of the fence on that one!

3. P&G was my first foray into the Fortune 500 world of Corporate America. I literally went from working fries at McDonald's in high school to interning at Procter for 4 summers via the Inroads minority internship program (http://www.inroads.org/).

I did a lot of growing up and learning in my 4 summers and 2 full-time years at Procter and I'm proud to say that it was one of the most nurturing business environments I've ever experienced. They really know how to train managers, leaders, and world-class marketers...for that, I'm eternally grateful and will always know that they placed me on solid footing for my eventual application at HBS and future marketing/brand endeavors. I have so many great supporters and friends from my time at Procter & Gamble, I can say enough about my overwhelmingly positive experience!

You have been quoted as saying street smarts are better than book smarts. How do you define street smarts? How have street smarts contributed to your success?

I've lived in Brooklyn and Harlem now, so I know a little bit about street smarts first hand. Street smarts are learned instincts from your environment. How to interact with people, assess situations, stay on your hustle, grind, make a dollar out of 15 cents!, etc.

Book smarts are learned in the hallowed halls of UNC, HBS, and the Ross School. They are great at opening doors, building relationships, establishing a pedigree...but in the end, this is a HUSTLER'S world (legal of course, the illegal is a whole other subject matter)! You either have that innate drive to succeed and hustle or you don't, school can't teach you that! But school will open doors for you and provide the needed credibility that so many minority professionals must have just to be given a chance or treated fairly.

I think the combination of both street smarts and book smarts is critical, but I give the edge to street smarts if you have to pick one over the other and/or what will make the average person more successful.

Street smarts have helped me with my #1 skill: Social/Human intelligence. How to interact with people, charisma, communication, influence, etc. are all key factors for a successful visionary or entrepreneur.

Most importantly street smarts reinforce this notion of hustle, ambition, desire! That separates middle management from the CEO and activist entrepreneurs from passive dreamers.

Your website describes Legacy Holdings LLC as a company involved in 'real estate development, fashion, television, and film production'. How have those interests come about? Also, what are the biggest challenge facing minority-owned businesses?

Legacy Holdings LLC like all entrepreneurial ventures and start-up firms is a fluid work in progress, so don't read too much into our interest areas. We have worked on projects in all of those areas but have narrowed our focus through tough lessons. We have continued to reinvent ourselves in order to find our niche and we are currently focused on private investment in real estate, development, and my personal media ventures under the Kwame Inc. banner.

I think like any entrepreneur, I had so many things coming at me, that we all had to drink from the fire hose for a while... and after gorging yourself on fools gold sometimes you get a tummy ache and wake up!

I think access to capital continues to be the #1 issue for minority owned business in particular. We face all the common challenges of other entrepreneurial firms and established ventures but continue to suffer from the inability to access friends and family for initial funding as well as formal capital markets like home equity lines of credit, bank lending, venture capital, and investment banks for later growth rounds.

I always refer to the first challenge as the historic lack of "rich uncles or aunts" in our community. I have so many colleagues of different ethnic backgrounds that are able to access $250,000+ from a friend or family member pre-business plan based on an idea, passion, and a family relationship.

Minority owned businesses are still struggling with establishing these types of relationships, net worths, sense of family fiscal responsibility and shared risk taking that allows entrepreneurs and business owners to be successful.

Even among the talented tenth of monied [well- payed] elite athletes, entertainers, and business owners in our community there is not always that emphasis on reaching back, each one teach one, nor celebrating the journey of entrepreneurship vs. the destination once someone has become successful.

Or more simply, just the mentality that says, let me invest in this young talented sister or brother behind me!

Unfortunately, we are often afraid to be duped and/or help our own for various reasons be they legitimate or illegitimate. We have to break this cycle!

Connections Saturday Sept 30th - Atlanta

(admin) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 16:01:32 +0000

Yet another Place to Find Kwame Jackson

(admin) — Fri, 8 Sep 2006 05:07:43 +0000

.. Is on MySpace... No Kiddding, Here you go.

http://www.MySpace.com/kwametjackson

And, this folks is the real deal, he did this one himself and if you add yourself as a Kwame friend, it will be Him doing the clicking, not anyone else.

About Kwame's Brother Joe

(admin) — Sun, 2 Jul 2006 04:33:44 +0000

Link = http://kwamejackson.com/joe.html

Olufunso Joe Bamidele Olowofoyeku

Olufunso Bamidele Olowofoyeku, our beloved Joe, 36, of Honolulu, entered our fathers kingdom on January 19, 2006.

Joe was born in Washington, DC on August 10, 1969 to Dr. Bamisegun Victor Olowofoyeku and Mrs. Temitayo Aderibigbe.

He enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after his high school graduation and immediately began training to become a Navy Corpsman in Illinois.

Joe was a combat veteran of the United States Navy, where he served as a decorated Navy Corpsman during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Joe was awarded a Good Conduct citation by the United States Navy and his unit was decorated for their time in combat in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Joe was honorably discharged from the United States Navy in 1993 after proudly serving his country for more than 5 years.

Although Joe was born on the mainland, he lived nearly half his life in Hawaii and chose to start and raise his family in the paradise he called home.

Joe is survived by his sons Kamal and Kalel Olowofoyeku: brothers, Temilade Olowofoyeku, Kwame Jackson, Debo Aderibigbe and sister Fehintola Aderibigbe; father, Dr. Bamisegun Victor Olowofoyeku; mother Mrs. Temitayo Aderibigbe.

Joes warmth and energy surrounds us all and we are all better for the light he brought into each of our lives. God bless him and all who shared in his life.

In the news:

By CECIL JOHNSON Knight Ridder Newspapers

Published Saturday, July 1, 2006

But in "Suite Success," a well-wrought variation on the much-written-about theme of the power of positive thinking, psychologist Liza Siegel makes it abundantly clear that there was no call to shed any tears for that reality TV show contestant when he came in second in the finals of the first season of "The Apprentice."

Siegel points out that after Donald Trump hired another contestant, billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban waited for hours at Jacksons after-show party to make a job offer to the fired contestant and that Goldman Sachs, Jacksons former employer, also offered him a substantial salary to come back.

"Although he lost the apprenticeship, Kwame has become one of reality televisions most sought-after public speakers. He addresses both college students and Fortune 500 company executives, the latter including those from American Express, Pricewaterhouse-Coopers, and General Electric," Siegel writes.

The author is a consulting psychologist for both "The Apprentice" and "Survivor" reality TV shows. But all the reality show profiles she uses to underscore her observations and recommendations in this book are of "The Apprentice" candidates. And, although most of them, such as Jackson, were fired at some point in their seasons, none was a loser. Of Jackson, she writes further:

"Most recently, Kwame was honored as the first African-American guest speaker sponsored by the London School of Economics Students Union Business Society at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science. He has a $3.8 billion real estate deal in the works, a company called Legacy Holdings, and lifetime bragging rights to having survived ten boardrooms in the very first season of a show that will certainly leave an indelible mark on popular culture."

Siegel cites Jackson as a personification of the idea that treating people decently matters in both business and social life. Another word for that is "resonance" - a quality that enables a leader to bring out the best in each team member based upon the members goals, values and priorities.

Jackson, of course, had more than resonance. He exhibited all the positive characteristics that Siegel lists as essential to successful entrepreneurship and leadership. Those other essential qualities cited by Siegel are optimism, creativity, resilience, self-control, passion, emotional awareness and sociability. Other fired and hired contestants are used to illustrate those attributes. Siegel emphasizes that all the contestants on "The Apprentice" are winners. They had to be to be chosen to compete for the honor of serving under Trump. Most of them are already successful entrepreneurs or up-and-coming corporate executives.

As consulting psychologist, Siegels job is to interview scores of potential contestants who are picked from thousands of wannabes who submit their résumés to participate in the show. She helps determine who makes the final cut. Those who ultimately get the opportunity to be hired or fired by Trump are, as Siegel portrays them, extroverted poster children for the power of positive thinking.

They are the kind of people who readily bounce back from setbacks. Nevertheless, another part of Siegels job is to counsel some of the contestants after they are fired.

The title of the book derives from the way contestants were fired from the show before Trump came up with his now-famous - or infamous - "youre fired" tagline. Trump directed contestants either to the elevator that went up to the executive suite or the one that took them down to the street.

Siegel reprises in laymans terms most of the current developments in positive psychology, which she says "addresses the positive emotions and qualities that propel us forward and add richness to our living."

Therapists, she says, concerned themselves by and large for many decades with relieving the suffering of people who had mental illness. Self-help books, she says, mainly issued advice on easing the mentally ill and their families.

In contrast, "Suite Success" offers guidance for transforming psychological and circumstantial problems into benefits and for developing or enhancing those personal qualities that spell success.

Even people who dont care much for reality TV - or Trump, for that matter - might find reading Siegels reality TV-spiced spin on the efficacy of optimism a positive experience.

______________________________________________________

Note from the Webdude:::

ahem - the title for this article is wrong, never ever did Donald Trump say "You're Fired" to Kwame Jackson.

(admin) — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 22:56:24 +0000

This is a FREE event!

New Sunday Event - NIRVANA

(admin) — Tue, 4 Apr 2006 20:06:57 +0000

YOU are invited to a Sunday Night Grand Opening Event "NIRVANA" hosted by NIRVANA magazine, Kwame Jackson, Peter Paul, and Carlos Narcisse...

see the flash invite http://dsmj.net/nirvana

April 9th at Guesthouse in New York City - RSVP at NIRVANASUNDAYS@YAHOO.COM

Finding The Right Home

(admin) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:14:39 +0000

When Aisha Thomas, first runner up in the BLACK ENTERPRISE Own Your First Home Contest, went house hunting she wasnt just looking for a place to live, but for an investment. Her goal: live in the home for five to seven years and then possibly keep it as rental property.

But finding something that was affordable was a challenge. In my search for a home, the difficult part was finding something affordable for my situation in a relatively decent area, says Thomas, who is also a real estate agent. I overcame that by moving out of my comfort zone (which was the city of Detroit).

Tips for choosing a home that will also be an investment

1. A house can be an investment. Focus on buying in the path of growth and holding if you view your acquisition as a pure appreciation play, says Kwame Jackson, Chairman of Legacy Holdings L.L.C., a New York-based private investment firm focused on real estate development, acquisitions, and leveraged buy-outs.

2. Check out the neighborhood. Look for neighborhoods that are experiencing gentrification, says Jackson, as well as growth in supporting retail, future government plans for expansion, zoning, and entitlements.

3. Consider family friendly areas. If selling your home is in your plans, remember that many prospective buyers will be seeking family friendly areas. Consider schools, safety, and crime rates, Jackson says.

4. Price matters. Never buy the most expensive property on the block, advises Jackson. You want to allow yourself room for price contraction or appreciation if you may be in a so called bubble.

5. Think ahead. Always think of an exit strategy, says Jackson. What is your time horizon for living in this home and what are your goals for appreciation?

6. Look at the home from the sellers point of view. If I were only going to be a short-term owner, I would think of the next possible buyer right away, says Jackson. Could I rent this property?

7. Decode Zip Codes. Conduct a zip code search on the Internet to find out more information about the neighborhood. Try Yahoo! Real Estate at: http://realestate.yahoo.com/re/neighborhood/main.html

http://www.blackenterprise.com/ExclusivesekOpen.asp?id=1531

January 2006

(admin) — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:26:00 +0000

Firstly - Happy 2006 to everyone, we hope this will be a great year for you.

I was lucky enough to be in town with my cameras for the SKIN DEEP launch party at Bruno's, a KMR Communications bash crafted by the beautiful Katherine Rothman, with a bevvy of beautiful people everywhere.

http://new.kwamejackson.com/gallery/Appearances for more photos.

Kwame Jackson Auctioned Off to Benefit Hurricane Victims

(admin) — Mon, 3 Oct 2005 22:42:29 +0000

By: Alyssa Rashbaum

October 3, 2005

Calling all Apprentice fans - former contestant Kwame Jackson is going to be placed on the auction block, with the proceeds benefiting victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Jackson will take part in the auction/comedy show organized by the New York Chapter of Spelman College's National Alumna Association in conjunction with members of the NAACP. The fundraising event will take place at New York City's Club Blvd on Wednesday, October 5 from 6:30pm-11:30pm and will raise money for Spelman College's Hurricane Katrina Emergency Scholarship Fund and the NAACP's Disaster Relief Fund.

I am honored to be able to participate in this fundraiser to help students displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and grateful to be working with Spelman College, one of the premier academic institutions in this country, and the NAACP, the preeminent civil rights organization in the nation, Jackson said in a statement.

Participants at the event will be able to donate to the education of more than 100 Spelman College students impacted by the hurricane in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Money raised will go towards the more than $1.5 million needed to help these displaced students, including 34 whose homes were completely destroyed.

Tickets are a $15 donation and non-ticket holders will be asked to make a $20 donation the evening of the event.

Club Blvd is located at 199 Bowery at Spring Street.

Do you Know what it Means .. to Miss new Orleans?

(admin) — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 13:24:25 +0000

The invitation to this event is at: http://www.dsmj.net/Moonshine/

Presented by The Moonshine Project
at Crash Mansion 199 Bowery @ Spring Street on Tuesday October 4th , 7-11 p.m.
Cocktails & hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Minimum Donation: $100 ~ Patron Donation VIP seating: ($250 +)
Please bring a donation of an instrument if you can.
RSVP: 212.941.2672

Join Susan Sarandon, Wyclef Jean, Judd Harris and Kwame Jackson and more at this benefit event in support of the lives of the musicians of New Orleans. Many that lost everything to the hurricane and flood now need your help.

( this is a pretty cool celebrity event, bring a typical NOLA Jazz and/or band instrument to donate if you can)

"Stuff The Bus" with School Supplies with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington D.C.

(admin) — Tue, 9 Aug 2005 02:14:42 +0000

Community Favorably Responds to Stuff the BusSchool Supply Drive

Kwame Jackson, star of TVs The Apprentice, and Boys & Girls Clubs Greater Washington

Extend Challenge until September 1st

Students in Washington, DC area will begin this school year with ample school supplies thanks to Kwame Jackson Americas favorite businessman from the hit first season of NBCs The Apprentice and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW). Because of the generous response from the community the Stuff the Bus campaign has been extended by one week enabling residents more time to donate school supplies.

The bus has reached half its capacity, Kwame said. We need D.C. area residents to make their way to local school-supply stores and help us stuff the bus to the brim so the youth serviced by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington will have the tools they need to succeed this school year. I urge local residents to take the time to drop off donations at clubs across the city.

The Stuff the Bus challenge will conclude with the Stuff the Bus Happy Hour on Thursday, September 1^st, 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., at Blue Gin, located at

1206 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, D.C.

Admission is $10 or $5 with a bag full of school supplies. Partygoers will have the opportunity to meet Kwame, groove with D.C.s DJ Energy and win free door prizes. For more information on the culminating event call 202.466.7717 email stuffthebus@westinrinehart.com

Residents are encouraged to help Kwame Stuff the Bus with school supplies such as backpacks, rulers, scissors, pencils, pens markers, notebooks, glue, highlighters, calculators and paper. Donations will continue to be accepted until September 1^st at any of the 13 Boys & Girls Clubs Greater Washington locations. A list of drop-off sites can be found by visiting http://www.bgcgw.org/clubs/dc.html or by calling 301.562.2003.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington serves more than 36,000 children annually and operates 26 clubs. The mission of BGCGW is to help boys and girls of all backgrounds - with an emphasis on at-risk youth - build confidence, develop character and acquire the skills needed to become productive, civic-minded and responsible adults. BGCGW offers a variety of programs in character and leadership development, education, career development, culture, health and life skills, sports, fitness and recreation.

For more information on the Stuff the Bus challenge please visit www.kwamejackson.com or contact Alonza Robertson at 202.466.1933 or by email at alonza@westinrinehart.com

Continue reading ""Stuff The Bus" with School Supplies with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington D.C."

The Entrepreneur

(admin) — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 16:04:02 +0000

Entrepreneurialism

en·tre·pre·neur n.

A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture.

French, from Old French, from entreprendre, to undertake.

Just Think about it:...

These days there are more self-employed micro-business ventures than ever before. The reasons are many and the diversity of interest is everywhere. I know people forced from what they thought were careers of long-term loyalty to their company that were laid off due to takeover or management change or the malaise of an industry sector... for example if you are an HP employee right now you may be one if the 15,000 that will not have a consistent paycheck by the fall of this year. Life-changing moments. They decided to chuck it all and persue a dream, hang a shingle with a logo on it, and start their own company. But that decision has yet to lead to action.

I also know people who felt the job they were doing was a pointless process in a survival game controlled by others, and they wish to break free from that and direct thier own destiny by design... and Start thier own firm. This story plays out everywhere there are people. Much of it stays in the realm of wishful thinking.

Or:...

Maybe some people have a specific love of an idea or concept, a belief that there is a win-win situation that they can bring to life, with a product or a service or a new concept in technology... What will it take to get that started, to make things happen, to become an entrepreneur?

Get Busy:...

It takes an exceptional presence of mind to break free, build a team and from that ... build a dream.

We have started an area in Kwame's website that explores Entrepreneurship, and to start,

... we have this simple quiz http://kwamejackson.com/Entrepreneurs/

Embedded in the inherent basis of the quiz are several key nuggets of underlying and necessary thinking that deal with the starting-point issues of your basic entrepreneur. Give it a few clicks - have fun, and remember that Windows of Opportunity are all around you.

Way Back When

(admin) — Wed, 1 Jun 2005 20:14:31 +0000

... When you were in high school, did you think you might, when you are older and wiser ... return someday?

Kwame did... to become part of their "Wall of Fame".

They asked him a lot of questions, the result is a document full of little nuggets you may enjoy...

CONGRATULATIONS on being selected for induction into the East Mecklenburg Wall of Fame!! In order to prepare for this occasion, we need your help.

We would like to gather information about you. Please fill out this questionnaire to the best of your ability.

1. What year did you graduate?

I graduated in 1992.

2. List any extracurricular activities you were involved in during high school.

Student Congress, NAACP, JV Football, Debate Club, Prom Attendant, Renaissance, Class Board, Class Officer, President of Youth Involvement Council Charlotte NCCJ, Camp Anytown Camp attendee and Advisor, Worked at McDonalds at 5600 E. Independence throughout HS eventually promoted to Crew Trainer, Inroads Charlotte, Leaders of Tomorrow, Duke Power Partners Program,

3. List any honors or awards you received during high school.

Senior Superlative voted Best Sense of Humor by entire School graduating class of 474, Published OP/Ed piece in Charlotte Observer on Happy Meal toy give away rejection of Black Barbie @ McDonalds expose piece while I was an employee and in HS.

What is your favorite high school memory?

I remember my Advanced Chemistry teacher Larry McAfee pulling my best friend John Webb and me aside at the end of our graduation ceremony, putting his arm around us, and telling us that we had unlimited potential and that we could be anything we wanted.

That was one of the most sincere and encouraging moments of my entire HS career. Because Mr. MacAfee was sincere, respected, and really believed in us both.

I remember almost oversleeping for the graduation ceremony because I had the time wrong by an hour and they had already pulled my diploma from the announcement list in order to avoid calling the names of folks who werent present at the preliminary roll call. They had to retrieve my diploma and reinsert it in the list as I ran to join my class.

I remember winning the Best Sense of Humor award my senior year and thinkingwow! They really do think Im funny!! After all, the whole class had to vote on the thing via Scantron ballots, it was legit!

I remember finally getting my 200 Club t-shirt from Coach Dulan after reaching the 200lbs weight mark in weight trainingI was skinny, but I felt swole!

I remember the pep rallies and big games surrounding homecoming in football and basketball.

I remember great teachers like Coach Coltrane in AP History, Jackie Fishman in AP English, Ms. Phillips in French 2-5, Coach Larry McAfee in Adv. Chemistry. All these teachers taught me to question, to value intellectual curiosity, to dream, to push, and to believe in myself!

I remember always being able to rely on my McClintock crew that I had spent 3 years with before we came to East Meck. Folks like East Meck SBP, Phiderika Foust, Alex Bragg, etc.

I remember not being cool or confident enough to try and talk to any of the attractive letter girls or cheerleaders!

I remember when I first started driving my 1987 white Nissan Sentra to school! So Fresh and So CleanI thought I was the man!

I remember wanting an East Meck Letter jacket so badly!

I remember the food sucked, but I would always drink lots of chocolate milks at lunch.

5. What college did you attend and what was your major?

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill BS in Business Administration 1996

Please briefly describe the career path that you have taken since high school.

I have been on a pretty standard career path checking boxes up until the last year. I went to UNC after East Meck, I did 4 summers interning as the first Procter & Gamble Inroads intern in Charlotte while in college and then accepted a full-time offer to work in their Sales and Marketing group upon graduating from UNC with a Business Administration degree in 1996.

After working for Procter for 1 year I applied to Law Schools and was eventually accepted to Duke Universities JD/MBA program. I chose to shoot for the stars and was also accepted to Harvard Business School where I went on to complete my MBA in 2000.

I worked on several dot-com startups during my days at Harvard and then accepted a job with Goldman Sachs on Wall St. upon graduation. I started in Goldman Sachs dot-com group and then moved on to their Private Wealth Management group where I built business managing wealthy client portfolios for 3+ years.

I arrived at Wall St. just as the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, and went on to experience the 3 worst years in the equity market since the great depression. Given this disappointing economic period, I began to look at other options and along came the opportunity to take a chance to build my own brand and showcase my professional skills on a nationally televised program called the Apprentice.

I viewed this opportunity as a unique way to utilize celebrity as a form of business capital and an unprecedented platform to launch my entrepreneurial endeavors.

After the show, I turned down hundreds of job offers to start my own company, Legacy Holdings LLC with 2 long time professional colleagues and fraternity brothers from UNC. www.legacyholdingsllc.com

Legacy Holdings is specifically designed to leave a lasting legacy of entrepreneurship that we can all be proud of as 3 young men who took the opportunity to leverage their education and experience to bet on themselves.

Legacy Holdings LLC is primarily a real estate development firm and we have already begun our first project, a $3.8 Billion mixed use, live, work, play community called Rosewood in Prince Georges County MD, about 10 miles from the White House.

We also are in the beginning stages of launching a lodging focused real estate Private Equity fund.

Moreover, I am a national/international lecturer, speaking out on topics such as entrepreneurship, leadership, risk taking, corporate success, education, etc. I have been on the professional lecture circuit for about a year and a half and have completed close to 100 engagements at Universities, Fortune 500 Companies, and Civic institutions across the country and around the world.

Wall of Fame Inductees must be outstanding members of their own community and must have a significant impact in their particular occupational field. In your own words, how do you feel you meet these qualifications?

I have always been an active member of my community, from Charlotte, to UNC, to Harvard, and now in NYC.

I am involved with TEAK fellowship, The Posse Foundation, NY Public Schools, FBLA, Operation Smile, Inroads, DNC, etc. to push forward the value of education, mentoring, and leveling the playing field to ensure opportunity for all.

List any community/extracurricular activities that you are involved in now.

www.kwamejackson.com for more

Mentor for disadvantaged youth in TEAK Fellowship, Mentor for college prep program in Posse Foundation, Principal For a Day at Harlem PS 129 in NYC, Operation Smile volunteer, National Inroads spokesperson/lecturer, DNC Boston Convention speaker to NC Delegates, Harlem Dowling (oldest African-American orphanage in America) fundraiser and awardee, Freddie Mac Hoops for the Homeless volunteer, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Speaker, etc., LIFE Foundation Life Insurance Awareness Month National Spokesperson Sept. 2004, United Negro College Fund JP Morgan Keynote Speaker (largest single gift to UNCF from JP Morgan), Boys & Girls Club Keynote Speaker Indianapolis IN and Milwaukee WS.

8. List any honors or awards that you received after graduating from high school.\

Kenan-Flagler Business School Leadership Excellence Award,

UNC Deans List,

President of UNC Black Business Student Alliance,

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Middle Eastern Province Business Excellence Award,

Harvard Business School John F. Lebor Entrepreneur Fellowship recipient, NASD Series 7, 66, 3 Holder,

Key to the city from Indianapolis IN, Trenton NJ, and Columbia SC.

Kwame Jackson Day proclamation by Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory and Charlotte City Council on 1/21/05.

Kentucky Colonel award given by Governor of Kentucky Ernie Fletcher, Winston Salem State University Distinguished leadership award,

Harlem Dowling Outstanding Achievement Award,

US Department of Commerce Small Business Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency Entrepreneurship Award, National Black MBA Outstanding Service and Commitment Award,

Inroads Central New Jersey Frank C. Carr Community Service Award,

Inroads National Alumni Keynote Speaker Award for the Northeast Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Queens Alumni Salute to Achievers Award, Howard University School of Business - Business Achievement Award, AHBAI The Proud Lady Keynote Speaker Award,

People Magazine 50 Most Beautiful People 2004,

People Magazine 50 Hottest Bachelors 2004,

Florida Marlins First Pitch Pitcher

10. List a quote that you live by that has helped you along the way and could be beneficial for someone else. (Example: Life is a taxi, and you are the driver).

Get busy living or get busy dying Shawshank Redemption

We have our entire lives to be ordinary and only a few moments to be extraordinary Me!

11. List any other information you would like us to know.

Im so proud of my time at East Mecklenburg and Im most humbled by this award! I always wanted to be in that glass case in front of the school, but I knew my jump shot wasnt going to get me there :>

For more information on me please direct students, award showcase, or published materials to www.kwamejackson.com which is constantly updated.

Thank you!

Welcome back

(admin) — Sat, 21 May 2005 18:30:50 +0000

It looks like quite a few people have found this little unheralded and essentially hidden blog... so hello out to you all, and as a reward for that, here is news ahead of the news...

Kwame will be at the Indy 500, he probably will do a celebrity lap too, should be fun. If you get your photo taken with Kwame and want it on our site, then let me know ( allow comments is turned on - your email will be hidden ) This Blog is where they will be.

RE: Donny Deutsch tv appearance with Ereka and Omarosa... we got dozens on dozens of emails in on that, a new one comes in about every 15 minutes it seems... - i couldnt post them all, just know that we got them and Kwame does see them. Nobody said anything in Omarosa's defense, kind of sad, i expected at least one or two of her fans to show up and say something, anything, in support for her.

Continue reading "Welcome back"

The Big IDEA

(admin) — Thu, 19 May 2005 01:47:53 +0000

of course The BIG IDEA with Donny Deutsch on CNBC is, ... well, Big.

Kwame is on Weds Night, i got a heads-up call from Kwame, then a call afterward from Erik saying it had a lot of Ereka and the big "O" having at it.. again...

An edit is now in the Video section of Kwame's site

http://kwamejackson.com/videos/

Kwame patiently waits for several minutes of the two women having at it between transitions in this edit... cut short on the true length of the catfight part of this show.

Kwame's comment on forgiving them for not being substantive was lost a bit in the mix, and totally on point.

Thanks out to Donny for being real about it all the whole time, ( made a "Big Idea" fan out of me anyhow ) ... the presence of a Lie Detector testing setup, On-Set no less, speaks volumes about what everyone thinks of this situation.