CNN Political Commentator; Former Communications Director for VP Kamala Harris
Jamal Simmons: Biography at a Glance
- Jamal Simmons is one of the most experienced political operatives of his generation, most recently serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House.
- Jamal serves as co-host of Trailblaze, a podcast where he brings his sharp insights and humor to dive into thought-provoking discussions on the complexities of policy, politics, and America’s role on the global stage.
- He can also currently be seen as an on-air political commentator for CNN.
- Jamal has been at the nexus of politics and media for nearly three decades - focused on increasing U.S. economic competitiveness through innovation and diversity.
- His article, “The 4 Percent Problem,” was heralded as the first to identify the surprisingly and consistently low rate of Black people in leadership across academic, corporate, and military sectors.
- Jamal has held positions on the CulturalDC arts board, PepsiCo African American Advisory Committee, Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation Board, Council on Foreign Relations, and French American Foundation.
- Highly sought-after for his insights on race and diversity, Jamal has appeared on MSNBC, PBS Newshour, and ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos.
Videos
Biography
Jamal Simmons has been at the nexus of politics and media for nearly three decades -- focused on increasing U.S. economic competitiveness through innovation and diversity. Most recently, he was Deputy Assistant to the President and Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. He can currently be seen as an on-air political commentator for CNN and as co-host of Trailblaze, a podcast where he brings his sharp insights and humor to dive into thought-provoking discussions on the complexities of policy, politics, and America’s role on the global stage.
Before joining the White House, Jamal was a political contributor for CBS News and “Here & Now” on NPR. His article, “The 4 Percent Problem” in Democracy, A Journal of Ideas, was heralded as the first to identify the surprisingly consistent low rate of Blacks in leadership across academic, corporate, and military sectors.
Prior to CBS, Jamal produced and hosted Hill TV digital interviews with political leaders, celebrities, and activists. He joined Hill TV from the Raben Group, where he advised corporate and foundation leaders for nearly a decade. He also co-chaired the Internet Innovation Alliance and founded CRVIII (CRATE) a digital media start-up.
Jamal is one of the most experienced political operatives of his generation. In 2008, he was the lead Obama campaign surrogate on CNN during the epic presidential primary battle between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and worked for the Obama/Biden ticket at the Democratic National Committee. In 2004, he was traveling press secretary to two presidential primary candidates and in 2002 campaign communications director for a U.S. senator. Before the age of 30, Jamal managed media staff in 40 states for Gore/Lieberman 2000; served as a Gore spokesman in West Palm Beach during the Florida recount; and was chief of staff to a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Jamal got his start on Bill Clinton’s traveling campaign staff in 1992 and set up events around the world for the Clinton White House. He was also an assistant to U.S. Trade Representative and Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor. In those roles, he represented the U.S. government in 15 countries including Ukraine and China.
Highly sought-after for his insights, Jamal has appeared on MSNBC, PBS Newshour, and ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. His credits as a speaker or moderator include the Milken Institute, Executive Leadership Council, SHRM, the U.S. National War College, and Morehouse College’s commencement.
Jamal is a former member of the CulturalDC arts board, PepsiCo African American Advisory Committee, Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation Board, Council on Foreign Relations, and French American Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and a Master in Public Policy (MPP) degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.
Jamal lives in the New York City area with his wife and their children.
Topics
The 4 Percent Problem: Exploring the Lack of Diversity in Leadership
In nearly every sector, Black inclusion in leadership stalls at around 4 percent. This phenomenon, described as The 4 Percent Problem, is likely no coincidence says journalist Jamal Simmons.
Based on the findings of his research, Simmons discusses the consistently low threshold that White participants set to determine when sufficient diversity has been achieved. He also explains the thin line that currently appears to exist between creating a diverse environment and sparking white flight.
Audiences will walk away with a clear guide for addressing diversity in the workplace, including how to:
- Rethink the “Pipeline Problem”
- Integrate diverse leaders
- Invest in HBCUs and their talent pools
The America We Deserve -- Strong Enough for All of Us
Jamal Simmons believes America’s future is bright. It can take criticism, learn from its setbacks, get up on its feet, face forward, and forge a new path. In America, we can do big things and still do good things. We can create products the world has never seen and care for people the world too often leaves behind. We can compete with any nation and tap the creativity and innovative spirit of every community.
In this conversation, Jamal addresses the big questions and shows us we don’t have to hide from our past or fear for our future. Based on his experiences in politics and business, Jamal highlights examples of American prowess and how leaders who tap into that are what the country needs. He leaves audiences feeling optimistic and with a clear outline of the type of leadership needed in government and every other sector to build an America that is strong enough for all of us.
How Authentic Leaders Persuade Key Audiences
As a young man, Jamal Simmons was heavily influenced by former Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, who died in a tragic plane crash in Croatia. Jamal once heard Secretary Brown say that people should make friends first and do business later because it was a lot easier to work with people you knew and liked than with strangers.
Working alongside some of the top leaders in the world – from military commanders to politicians to business executives – Jamal has learned a number of leadership lessons that he employs to this day. Whether guiding leaders through communications crises, securing investors for his company, or reorganizing a team of White House staffers to make a cultural shift, Jamal focuses on 5 key things he has learned can convince targeted audiences:
- Listen to Strangers – Meeting new people often means hearing new ideas and considering different choices. Get out of your bubble to challenge your thinking.
- Kill the Spider –It’s hard to focus on anything else with a spider crawling on the table. Address what’s on your audience’s minds before trying to get buy-in on your agenda.
- Drown a Kitten – Or maybe it’s “kill a darling”. Either way, make the tough choices and focus relentlessly on the important priorities.
- Don’t Blow Smoke - Be transparent about the process and tell hard truths -- especially when it’s your own bad news.
- Choose Sunrise - Nobody likes a negative Nelly. What’s your vision for a new day?
Moderated Conversation led by Jamal Simmons
Jamal brings a broad understanding of politics, business, and international affairs to lead complex and thought-provoking conversations. Jamal poses evocative questions that keep the audience's interests at the forefront of every discussion.
