Fields Jackson Jr.
CEO, Chief Cheerleader & Talent Scout at Racing Toward Diversity & Executive Director at HBCU Business Deans Roundtable
Fields Jackson, Jr. is currently the Founder , CEO and Chief Cheerleader of Racing Toward Diversity Magazine, Cary, NC, Executive Director of the HBCU Business Dean Roundtable and Coordinator of Special Projects and adjunct professor, teaching Entrepreneurial Sales and Marketing, at Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois. Fields has been recognized by Diversity Best Practices as one of the Top Diversity Thought Leaders on Twitter. Fields received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Allegheny College, Meadville, PA. Fields received his MBA Degree from Northern Illinois, DeKalb, Ill.
How did you get to become an expert in your key topics?
In January 2009 launched a regional quarterly diversity hard copy publication – Racing Toward Diversity magazine which was a 50/50 partnership between myself and The South Bend Tribune. We started out featuring stories primarily around the automotive marketplace – then grew in scope to cover and showcase the best diversity efforts and initiatives being made, regionally.
Written with business and educational audiences in mind. Our stories highlighted messages from influential leaders and their organizations. Why diversity is essential for survival & growth, best practices, business profiles, education & financial literacy, workplace culture, jobs, employment.
Four years after our start (2013) I brought out the partnership with the South Bend Tribune and now control 100% as the CEO, Chief Cheerleader & Talent Scout, Racing Toward Diversity magazine.
As the world changes at an increasing speed, our mission is to educate and showcase the best diversity efforts being made nationally as well as globally. We changed out delivery platform in August 2016 and began to publish daily via our daily newspaper, with strategic relationships with diversity and inclusion thought leaders worldwide. We now deliver our news on a local, regional, national and international basis to approximately 3 to 5 million readers/impressions quarterly.
What topic areas are you most passionate about?
Diversity, Inclusion, Careers, Supplier Diversity, HBCU, internships, early career opportunities, mentoring, employee resource group/affinity groups
Which influencers influence you within those key topics?
Jino Ahn CEO and Founder of Asian Diversity Inc. Jennifer Brown, Founder & CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting. Heather R. Ettinger Executive Vice President & Senior Advisor. Fairport Asset Mgmnt. Geoff Foster, Chief Executive Officer and President of Core Technology Molding Corporation. Reggie Howard – President and Executive Director of the United Athletes Foundation. Bill Imada Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the IW Group. Greg Jenkins, Founder, Greg Jenkins Consulting. Mirta M. Martin, Ph.D., President, Fairmont State Univ. Brian Moran Founder & CEO Brian Moran & Associates. Tanya M. Odom, Global Consultant and coach. Allison Waymyers, Owner & Founder at Spry Players Group, LLC
Outside of your key topics who else influences you?
How would you describe your offline influence?
I’m an Adjunct Professor at Chicago State & a Guest Lecturer at Notre Dame Science. I’m also a guest speaker South Carolina State Univ, North Carolina A&T Univ, North Carolina Central Univ, Medgar Evers College and Northern Illinois University.
What are your passions outside of work?
If a brand wanted to work with you, what offline / online activities would you be most interested in?
I’d be interested in speaking at event, video interviews and twitter chats.
What brands have you worked with?
HP, Dell, General Motors, Sodexo, Hallmark, Fifth Third Bank, KPMG, PwC, AT&T.
Which non-paid activities would you be keen to take part in if the opportunity raised your profile or delivered value to your audience?
I would be keen to co-Create long form content, provide a quote for content or news article, share / create a social post, speak at or attend an event, participate in a podcast, webinar or online chat (e.g. Twitter chat, Crowdchat, Google Hangout) and create video content.
What would be the best way for a brand to contact you?
Send me a message through my website, or connect with me on Twitter or LinkedIn.