Democratic Strategist & CNN Political Commentator; Former Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris
Jamal Simmons Biography
Jamal Simmons is on-air political commentator for CNN after most recently serving as Deputy Assistant to President Joe Biden and Communications Director to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Simmons has been at the nexus of politics and media for three decades. Prior to serving in the Biden-Harris White House, he was a political contributor for CBS News and NPR. Prior to CBS, he hosted digital interviews for Hill TV with political leaders and celebrities. Simmons joined Hill TV from the Raben Group, where he advised corporate, political and foundation leaders for nearly a decade. During the 2008 presidential primaries Simmons was a prominent Obama campaign surrogate and senior advisor to the Democratic National Committee. Before that, he was a press secretary for two presidential primary campaigns, communications director for a U.S. Senate race and managed the national state media operation for Gore/Lieberman 2000. He also served as a Gore spokesman in W. Palm Beach during the Florida recount.
Simmons got his start on Bill Clinton’s 1992 traveling campaign staff 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 Bosnia, Ukraine, Haiti, and China.
Simmons has written opinion pieces for Democracy: A Journal of Ideas and The New York Times. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation Board (honorary). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and a Master in Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.
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Jamal Simmons Speaking Topics
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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
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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.
Jamal Simmons Videos
Jamal Simmons: Black Leadership is Stalled at 4% | Amanpour and ...
George Floyd's murder and the Black Lives Matter movement prompted corporate America to commit to more diversity in their ranks.
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Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jamal Simmons for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jamal Simmons, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jamal Simmons or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Jamal Simmons
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What topics does Jamal Simmons speak about?
Jamal Simmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Black Heritage, Black History Month, Democrat, Host & Emcee, Journalist, Liberal, News & Media, Political, World Affairs -
Where does Jamal Simmons travel from?
Jamal Simmons generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Jamal Simmons’s agent?
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Jamal Simmons is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The 4 Percent Problem: Exploring the Lack of Diversity in Leadership, The America We Deserve -- Strong Enough for All of Us, How Authentic Leaders Persuade Key Audiences and Moderated Conversation . The estimated speaking fee range to book Jamal Simmons for your event is available upon request. Jamal Simmons generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Norman Ornstein, Donna Brazile, Ayesha Rascoe, Maya L. Harris and Zerlina Maxwell. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jamal Simmons for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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